Degree

The genitive denotes measure of space, time, or degree.

ὀκτὼ σταδίων τεῖχος a wall eight stades long T. 7.2, πέντε ἡμερῶν σῑτία provisions for five days 7. 43 (cp. fossa pedum quindecim, exilium decem annorum Less commonly with a neuter adjective or pronoun: ἐπὶ μέγα ἐχώρησαν δυνά<*> they advanced to a great pitch of power T. 1.118, τὶ δόξης some honour (aliq<*> famae) 1. 5, ἀμήχανον εὐδαιμονίᾱς (something infinite in the way of happiness) infinite happiness P. A. 41c (with emphasis on the adj.). But the phrases εἰς τοῦτο, εἰς τοσοῦτο ἀφικέσθαι (ἤκειν, ἐλθεῖν, προσβαίνειν, usually with a personal subject) followed by the genitive of abstracts are common: εἰς τοῦτο θράσους ἀφῑ́κετο he reached such a pitch of boldness D. 21.194, ἐν παντὶ ἀθῡμίᾱς in utter despondency T. 7.55, ἐν τούτῳ παρασκευῆς in this stage of preparation 2. 17, κατὰ τοῦτο καιροῦ at that critical moment 7. 2. The article with this genitive is unusual in classical Greek: εἰς τοῦτο τῆς ἡλικίᾱς to this stage of life L. 5.3. Some of these genitives may also be explained by 1306.

Time and degree are often expressed by prepositions with the accusative. See Prepositions under ἀμφί, ἀνά, διά, ἐπί, κατά, παρά, πρός, ὑπό.

Measure and Degree.—μέγα, μεγάλα greatly, πολύ, πολλά much, τὸ πολύ, τὰ πολλά for the most part, ὅσον as much as, οὐδέν, μηδέν not at all, τοσοῦτον so much, τὶ somewhat, ἀρχήν or τὴν ἀρχήν at all with οὐ or μή (ἐν τῷ παραχρῆμα οὐκ ἔστιν ἀρχὴν ὀρθῶς βουλεύεσθαι it is utterly impossible to deliberate correctly offhand Ant. 5.73).