ἀμφί (cp. ἄμφω, ἀμφότερος, Lat. ambi-, amb-, am-) originally on both sides (either externally only, or inside and outside), hence about. Cp. the use of περί (1693) throughout. Chiefly poetic, Ionic, and Xenophontic. In Attic prose chiefly with the accusative.
1. ἀμφί with the Genitive
Local (very rare and doubtful): οἱ ἀμφὶ ταύτης οἰκέοντες τῆς πόλιος
dwellers round about this city 8.104 (only here). Cause: about, concerning: ἀμφὶ σῆς λέγω παιδός
I speak about thy child Hec. 580, ἀμφὶ ὧν εἶχον διαφερόμενοι
quarrelling about what they had A. 4.5.17.
2. ἀμφί with the Dative
Local: ἀμφ᾽ ὤμοισιν ἔχει σάκος
he has a shield about his shoulders Λ 527. Cause: φοβηθεὶς ἀμφὶ τῇ γυναικί
afraid on account of his wife 6.62, ἀμφὶ φόβῳ by reason of (encompassed by) terror Or. 825; Means: ἀμφὶ σοφίᾳ ‘with the environment of poetic art’ Pind. P. 1. 12. Often in Pindar.
3. ἀμφί with the Accusative
Local: ἀμφὶ Μῑ́λητον
about Miletus A. 1.2.3, ἔδραμον ἀμφ᾽ Ἀχιλῆα
they ran around Achilles Σ 30; temporal: ἀμφὶ δείλην
towards evening A. 2.2.14. Number: ἀμφὶ τούς δισχῑλίους about two thousand 1. 2. 9; of occupation with an object: ἀμφὶ δεῖπνον εἶχεν
he was busy about dinner C. 5.5.44.
a. οἱ ἀμφί τινα the attendants, followers of a person, or the person himself with his attendants, etc.: ἀνὴρ τῶν ἀμφὶ Κῦρον πιστῶν
one of the trusty adherents of Cyrus A. 1.8.1, οἱ ἀμφὶ Χειρίσοφον Chirisophus and his men 4. 3. 21, οἱ ἀμφὶ Πρωταγόρᾱν
the school of Protagoras Th. 170c. This last phrase contains the only use of ἀμφί in Attic prose outside of Xenophon.
4. ἀμφί in Composition
Around, about' ἀμφιβάλλειν throw around (on both sides), ἀμφιλέγειν dispute (speak on both sides).