Distributive

Partitive Apposition (σχῆμα καθ᾽ ὅλον καὶ μέρος, construction of the whole and part). The parts are represented by the appositives, which stand in the same case as the whole, which is placed first to show the subject or object of the sentence: τὼ ὁδώ, ἡ μὲν εἰς μακάρων νήσους, ἡ δ᾽ εἰς τάρταρον two roads, the one to the Islands of the Blest, the other to Tartarus P. G. 524a (distributive apposition). The appositives are generally in the nominative (ὁ μέν, ἡ δέ; οἱ μέν, οἱ δέ), rarely in the accusative.

a. The whole may stand in the singular: λέγεται ψῡχὴ ἡ μὲν νοῦν ἔχειν, ἡ δὲ ἄνοιαν; with regard to the soul, is one said to have intelligence, the other folly? P. Ph. 93b.

Distributive Singular.—The singular of abstract nouns may be used distributively (rarely with concrete substantives): ὅσοι δίκαιοι ἐγένοντο ἐν τῷ ἑαυτῶν βίῳ all who proved themselves just in their lives P. A. 41a, διάφοροι τὸν τρόοπον different in character T. 8.96. The distributive plural (1004) is more common than the distributive singular: cp. νεᾱνίαι τᾱ̀ς ὄψεις youths in appearance L. 10.29 with ἡδεῖς τὴν ὄψιν pleasing in appearance P. R. 452b.

Distributive Singular.—The singular of abstract nouns may be used distributively (rarely with concrete substantives): ὅσοι δίκαιοι ἐγένοντο ἐν τῷ ἑαυτῶν βίῳ all who proved themselves just in their lives P. A. 41a, διάφοροι τὸν τρόοπον different in character T. 8.96. The distributive plural (1004) is more common than the distributive singular: cp. νεᾱνίαι τᾱ̀ς ὄψεις youths in appearance L. 10.29 with ἡδεῖς τὴν ὄψιν pleasing in appearance P. R. 452b.

Distributive Plural.—Abstract substantives are often used distributively in the plural: σῑγαὶ τῶν νεωτέρων παρὰ πρεσβυτέροις the silence of the younger men in the presence of their elders P. R. 425a.

Special uses of the particular article. The particular article defines

a. Objects well known: ὁ τῶν ἑπτὰ σοφώτατος Σόλων Solon the wisest of the Seven (Sages) P. Tim. 20d.

b Objects already mentioned or in the mind of the speaker or writer (the anaphoric article): εἶπον ὅτι τάλαντον ἀργυρίου ἕτοιμος εἴην δοῦναι . . . ὁ δὲ λαβὼν τὸ τάλαντον κ.τ.λ. I said that I was ready to give him a talent of silver . . . and he taking the talent, etc. L. 12.9-10.

c. Objects specially present to the senses or mind (the deictic article): λαβε τὸ βιβλίον take the book P. Th. 143c, βουλόμενος τὴν μάχην ποιῆσαι wishing to fight the battle T. 4.91. Hence the article is regularly used with demonstrative pronouns (1176).

N.—The foregoing (a - c) uses recall the old demonstrative force of the article. Words that ordinarily have no article may receive the article when this older force is present.

d. Objects particularized by an attributive or by a following description: ὁ δῆμος ὁ Ἀθηναίων the people of the Athenians Aes. 3.116, λέγε τὴν ἐπιστολήν, ἣν ἔπεμψεν read the letter that he sent D. 18.39. Cp. 1178 d.

e. Objects marked as usual or proper under the circumstances: τὸ μέρος τῶν ψήφων ὁ διώκων οὐκ ἔλαβεν the prosecutor did not get the (requisite) part of the votes D. 18.103.

f. Objects representative of their class (the distributive article, which resembles the generic use; often translated by a, each): ὑπισχνεῖται δώσειν τρία ἡμιδᾱρεικὰ τοῦ μηνὸς τῷ στρατιώτῃ he promises to give each soldier three half-darics a month X. A. 1.3.21. But the article may be omitted: καὶ εἵλοντο δέκα, ἕνα ἀπὸ φῡλῆς and they chose ten, one from (each) tribe X. H. 2.4.23.