Topic · from the English index · as printed

Size

exact, expressed by genitive

GENITIVE OF QUALITY

The use of the genitive to express quality, corresponding to the Latin genitive, occurs in the non-predicate position, only when age or size is exactly expressed by the addition of a numeral (genitive of measure, 1325). The Latin genitive of quality in mulier mirae pulchritudinis is expressed by γυνὴ θαυμασίᾱ κάλλος (or τοῦ κάλλους), γυνὴ θαυμασίᾱ ἰδεῖν, γυνὴ ἔχουσα θαυμάσιον σχῆμα, etc.

GENITIVE OF MEASURE

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.