(with παρά, πρός, κατά) comparison

κατά down (cp. κάτω), opposed to ἀνά. With the genitive (the genitive proper (of the goal) and the ablatival genitive) and the accusative. With the genitive, the motion is perpendicular; with the accusative, horizontal.

1. κατά with the Genitive

a. Local: down from, down toward, under: ἁλάμενοι κατὰ τῆς πέτρᾱς having leapt down from the rock X. A. 4.2.17, κατ᾽ ἄκρᾱς utterly, completely (down from the summit) P. L. 909b, ψῡχὴ κατὰ χθονὸς ᾤχετο his soul went down under the earth Ψ 100, μύρον κατὰ τῆς κεφαλῆς καταχέαντες having poured myrrh (down) over their heads P. R. 398a; rarely of rest: ὁ κατὰ γῆς the man under the earth X. C. 4.6.5.

b. Temporal (very rare): κατὰ παντὸς τοῦ αἰῶνος for all eternity Lyc. 7.

c. Other relations: against, as κατ᾽ ἐμαυτοῦ ἐρεῖν to speak against myself P. A. 37b; rarely in a favourable or neutral sense, as οἱ κατὰ Δημοσθένους ἔπαινοι the eulogies on Demosthenes Aes. 3.50, κατὰ πάντων λέγειν to speak with regard to all X. C. 1.2.16; by (with verbs of swearing), as ὀμνύντων τὸν ὅρκον κατὰ ἱερῶν τελείων let them swear the oath by (lit. down over) fullgrown victims T. 5.47.

2. κατά with the Accusative

a. Local: ἔπλεον κατὰ ποταμόν they sailed down-stream Hdt. 4.44, κατὰ τᾱ̀ς εἰσόδους ἐφεπόμενοι following to the entrances X. C. 3.3.64. Extension: καθ᾽ ὅλην τὴν πόλιν throughout the entire city Lyc. 40, κατὰ γῆν by land L. 2.32, διώκοντες τοὺς καθ᾽ αὑτούς pursuing those stationed opposite themselves X. A. 1.10.4.

b. Temporal (post-Homeric): κατὰ πλοῦν during the voyage T. 3.32, κατ᾽ ἐκεῖνον τὸν χρόνον at that time 1. 139, οἱ καθ᾽ ἑαυτόν his contemporaries D. 20.73.

c. Other relations: Purpose: κατὰ θέᾱν ἧκεν came for the purpose of seeing T. 6.31. Conformity: κατὰ τούτους ῥήτωρ an orator after their style P. A. 17b, κατὰ τοὺς νόμους according to the laws D. 8.2. Ground on which an act is based: κατὰ φιλίᾱν owing to friendship T. 1.60. Comparisons: μείζω ἢ κατὰ δάκρυα πεπονθότες having endured sufferings too great for (than according to) tears 7. 75 (cp. maior quam pro). Manner: καθ᾽ ἡσυχίᾱν quietly T. 6.64. Distribution: κατ᾽ ἔθνη nation by nation T. 1.122, δέκα δραχμαὶ κατ᾽ ἄνδρα ten drachmae the man Aes. 3.187, κατὰ σφᾶς αὐτούς per se T. 1.79. Approximate numbers: κατὰ πεντήκοντα about fifty Hdt. 6.79.

3. κατά in Composition

Down from above (καταπῑ́πτειν fall down), back (καταλείπειν leave behind), against, adversely (καταγιγνώσκειν condemn, decide against, καταφρονεῖν despise), completely (καταπετροῦν stone to death, κατεσθίειν eat up), often with an intensive force that cannot be translated. An intransitive verb when compounded with κατά may become transitive (1559).

παρά (Hom. παραί, Lat. por- in porrigere) alongside, by, near. Except with the accusative παρά is commonly used of persons and personified things.

1. παρά with the (Ablatival) Genitive

Usually coming or proceeding from a person, in Hom. also of things; cp. de chez.

a. Local: οἱ αὐτομολοῦντες παρὰ βασιλέως the deserters from the king X. A. 2.1.6. In poetry, where we might expect the dat. (1659 a): ἔγρετο παρ᾽ Ἥρης lit. he awoke from the side of Hera O 5. In standard Attic prose παρά with the gen. of a thing is excessively rare. When so used, the thing is personified, or the thing implies a person (as πόλις, ἀρχή, θέᾱτρον).

b. Author, Source (cp. 1410): with verbs of receiving, taking, asking, learning, sending, etc.: παρὰ Μήδων τὴν ἀρχὴν ἐλάμβανον Πέρσαι the Persians wrested the empire from the Medes X. A. 3.4.8, παρὰ σοῦ ἐμάθομεν we learned from you X. C. 2.2.6; ἡ παρὰ τῶν θεῶν εὔνοια the good-will on the part of the gods D. 2.1 (less commonly ἀπό); with passives and intransitives (instead of ὑπό with the gen. of the agent): τὰ παρὰ τῆς τύχης δωρηθέντα the gifts of Fortune I. 4.26, τοῦτο παρὰ πάντων ὁμολογεῖται this is acknowledged on all sides (on the part of all) L. 30.12.

2. παρά with the Dative

Almost always of persons in standard Attic prose; cp. chez.

a. Local: οὐ παρὰ μητρὶ σῑτοῦνται οἱ παῖδες, ἀλλὰ παρὰ τῷ διδασκάλῳ the boys do not eat with their mothers, but with their teachers X. C. 1.2.8, παρ᾽ ἐμοί σκηνοῦν to mess with me (as chez moi) 6. 1. 49; of things: τὰ παρὰ θαλάττη χωρία the places along the sea X. A. 7.2.25.

b. Other relations: Possessor: τὸ μὲν χρῡσίον παρὰ τούτῳ, οἱ δὲ κίνδῡνοι παρ᾽ ῡ̔μῖν this man has the gold, you the dangers Aes. 3.240; of the superior in command: οἱ παρὰ βασιλεῖ ὄντες those under the king X. A. 1.5.16; of the person judging: ἀναίτιος παρὰ τοῖς στρατιώταις blameless in the opinion of the troops X. C. 1.6.10, ὁμολογεῖται παρὰ τῷ δήμῳ it is agreed in the opinion of the people Lyc. 54 (here παρά denotes the sphere of judgment); with the gen. after a passive (1692. 1. b) it denotes the source.

3. παρά with the Accusative

a. Local: of motion to, in prose only of persons: ἧκε παρ᾽ ἐμέ come to me X. C. 4.5.25; motion along, by, past (a place): παρὰ γῆν πλεῖν sail along shore T. 6.13; of parallel extent (along, alongside, beside) with verbs of motion and of rest (often the dat.), and often when no verb is used: ἥνπερ ἔλαβον ναῦν, ἀνέθεσαν παρὰ τὸ τροπαῖον the ship they captured they set up alongside of the trophy T. 2.92, εἶπεν αὐτῷ μένειν παρ᾽ ἑαυτόν he told him to remain close by him X. C. 1.4.18, τὸ πεδίον τὸ παρὰ τὸν ποταμόν the plain extending along the river X. A. 4.3.1, ἦν παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν κρήνη there was a spring by the road 1. 2. 13. Contrary to: παρὰ τοὺς νόμους ἢ κατ᾽ αὐτούς contrary to (i.e. going past) the laws or in accordance with them D. 23.20; in addition to (along beside): ἔχω παρὰ ταῦτα ἄλλο τι λέγειν besides this I have to say something else P. Ph. 107a. Phrase: παρ᾽ ὀλίγον ἐποιοῦντο Κλέανδρον they treated Cleander as of no account (cp. ‘next to nothing’) X. A. 6.6.11.

b. Temporal: (duration) παρὰ πάντα τὸν χρόνον throughout the whole time D. 5.2, (momentary) παρὰ τὰ δεινά in the hour of danger Aes. 3.170, παρ᾽ αὐτὰ τᾱ̓δικήματα at the time of (i.e. immediately after) the offences themselves D. 18.13.

c. Other relations: Cause = διά: παρὰ τὴν ἡμετέρᾱν ἀμέλειαν in consequence of our negligence D. 4.11, εἰ παρὰ τὸ προαισθέσθαι κεκώλῡται if it was prevented by being perceived in advance 19. 42. Dependence: παρὰ τοῦτο γέγονε τὰ τῶν Ἑλλήνων the fortunes of the Greeks depend on this D. 18.232. Measure: παρὰ μῑκρὸν ἤλθομεν ἐξανδραποδισθῆναι we had a narrow escape (came by a little) from being enslaved I. 7.6, παρὰ πολύ by far T. 2.8. Comparison: ἐξέτασον παρ᾽ ἄλληλα contrast with each other D. 18.265, χειμὼν μείζων παρὰ τὴν καθεστηκυῖαν ὥρᾱν stormy weather more severe than was to be expected at the season then present T. 4.6.

4. παρά in Composition

Alongside, by, beside (παριέναι go alongside), beyond, past (παρελαύνειν drive past), over (παρορᾶν overlook), aside, amiss (παρακούειν misunderstand).

πρός (Hom. also προτί), at, by (fronting). Of like meaning, but of different origin, is Hom. ποτί.

1. πρός with the Genitive

a. Local (not common in prose): τὸ πρὸς ἑσπέρᾱς τεῖχος the wall facing the west X. H. 4.4.18, τὰ ὑποζύγια ἔχοντες πρὸς τοῦ ποταμοῦ having the pack-animals on the side toward the river X. A. 2.2.4.

b. Other relations: Descent: πρὸς πατρός on the father's side Aes. 3.169. Characteristic: οὐ γὰρ ἦν πρὸς τοῦ Κῡ́ρου τρόπου for it was not the way of Cyrus X. A. 1.2.11. Point of view of a person: πρὸς ἀνθρώπων αἰσχρός base in the eyes of men 2. 5. 20. Agent as the source, with passive verbs (instead of ὑπό): ὁμολογεῖται πρὸς πάντων it is agreed by all 1. 9. 20; to the advantage of; σπονδᾱ̀ς ποιησάμενος πρὸς Θηβαίων μᾶλλον ἢ πρὸς ἑαυτ ῶν making a truce more to the advantage of the Thebans than of his own party X. H. 7.1.17; in oaths and entreaties: πρὸς θεῶν by the gods X. H. 2.4.21.

2. πρός with the Dative

In a local sense, denoting proximity (generally, in prose, of towns or buildings, not of persons): πρὸς τῇ πόλει τὴν μάχην ποιεῖσθαι to fight near the city T. 6.49; sometimes like ἐν, as πρὸς ἱεροῖς τοῖς κοινοῖς ἀνατεθῆναι to be dedicated in the common shrines T. 3.57. Occupation: ἦν ὅλος πρὸς τῷ λήμματι he was wholly intent upon his gain D. 19.127. In addition to: πρὸς αὐτοῖς besides these T. 7.57. In the presence of: πρὸς τῷ διαιτητῆ λέγειν to speak before the arbitrator D. 39.22.

3. πρός with the Accusative

a. Local (direction toward or to, strictly fronting, facing): ῡ̔μᾶς ἄξομεν πρὸς αὐτούς we will lead you to them X. A. 7.6.6, πρὸς νότον (toward the) south T. 3.6, ἰέναι πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους to go against the enemy X. A. 2.6.10.

b. Temporal (rare): πρὸς ἡμέρᾱν toward daybreak X. H. 2.4.6.

c. Other relations: friendly or hostile relation: πρὸς ἐμὲ λέγετε speak to me X. C. 6.4.19, φιλίᾱ πρὸς ῡ̔μᾶς friendship with you I. 5.32, ἔχθρᾱ πρὸς τοὺς Ἀργείους enmity to the Argives T. 2.68, but ἡ πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἔχθρᾱ our enmity 6. 80, ἡ ἀπέχθεια πρὸς τοὺς Θηβαίους our enmity to the Thebans and the enmity of the Thebans to us D. 18.36. With words of hating, accusing, and their opposites, πρός is used either of the subject or of the object or of both parties involved. With words denoting warfare πρός indicates a double relation, and the context must determine which party is the aggressor or assailant: ναυμαχίᾱ Κορινθίων πρὸς Κερκῡραίους a sea-fight between the Corinthians and the Corcyreans T. 1.13 (here καί often suffices, as ὁ Λακεδαιμονίων καὶ Ἠλείων πόλεμος X. H. 3.2.31). Relation in general: οὐδὲν αὐτῷ πρὸς τὴν πόλιν ἐστίν he has nothing to do with the city D. 21.44, πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺς εὐσεβῶς ἔχειν to be pious toward the gods Lyc. 15. Purpose: πρὸς τί; to what end? X. C. 6.3.20, πρὸς χάριν λέγειν to speak in order to court favour D. 4.51; with a view to (often nearly = διά): πρὸς ταῦτα βουλεύεσθε εὖ wherefore be well advised T. 4.87, πρὸς τὰ παρόντα in consequence of the present circumstances 6. 41. Conformity: πρὸς τὴν ἀξίᾱν according to merit X. C. 8.4.29. Standard of judgment: οὐδὲ πρὸς ἀργύριον τὴν εὐδαιμονίᾱν ἔκρῑνον nor did they estimate happiness by the money-standard I. 4.76, χώρᾱ ὡς πρὸς τὸ πλῆθος τῶν πολῑτῶν ἐλαχίστη a territory very small in proportion to the number of its citizens 4. 107; and hence of comparison: οί φαυλότεροι τῶν ἀνθρώπων πρὸς τοὺς ξυνετωτέρους . . . ἄμεινον οἰκοῦσι τᾱ̀ς πόλεις the simpler class of men, in comparison with the more astute, manage their public affairs better T. 3.37. Exchange: ἡδονᾱ̀ς πρὸς ἡδονᾱ̀ς καταλλάττεσθαι to exchange pleasures for pleasures P. Ph. 69a.

4. πρός in Composition

To, toward (προσελαύνειν drive to, προστρέπειν turn toward), in addition (προσλαμβάνειν take in addition), against (προσκρούειν strike against, be angry with). Often in the general sense of additionally, qualifying the whole sentence rather than the verb.