ACCUSATIVE
[*] 1551. The accusative is a form of defining or qualifying the verb.
a. The accusative derives its name from a mistranslation (
casus accusativus) of the Greek (
ἡ αἰτια_τικὴ πτῶσις, properly
casus effectivus, 1554 a).
[*] 1552. A noun stands in the accusative when the idea it expresses is most immediately (in contrast to the dative) and most completely (in contrast to the genitive) under the influence of the verbal conception (in contrast to the nominative).
[*] 1553. The accusative is the case of the direct object (
919). The accusative is used with all transitive verbs (and with some intransitive verbs used transitively), with some verbal nouns, and with adjectives.
[*] 1554. The direct object is of two kinds:
a. The internal object (object effected):
ὁ ἀνὴρ τύπτει πολλὰ_ς πληγά_ς the man strikes many blows.
N. 1.—Here the object is already contained (or implied) in the verb, and its addition is optional. The accusative of the internal object is sometimes called the accusative of content. The object stands in apposition to the result of the verbal action. The effect produced by the verb is either (1) transient, when the object is a
nomen actionis, and disappears with the operation of the verb, as in
μάχην μάχεσθαι to fight a battle, or (2) permanent, and remains after the verbal action has ceased, as in
τεῖχος τειχίζειν to build a wall. The latter form is the accusative of result (
1578).
N. 2.—Almost any verb may take one of the varieties of the internal object.
b. The external object (object affected):
ὁ ἀνὴρ τύπτει τὸν παῖδα the man strikes the boy.
N.—Here the object is not contained in the verb, but is necessary to explain or define the character of the action in question. The external object stands outside the verbal action.
[*] 1555. Many verbs may take an accusative either of the external or of the internal object:
τέμνειν ὕ_λην fell timber,
τέμνειν τὰ_ς τρίχας cut off the hair,
τέμνειν ὁδόν open a road, but
σπονδὰ_ς or
ὅρκια τέμνειν, with a specialized verbal idea,
to make a treaty by slaying a victim (pass.
ὅρκια ἐτμήθη),
τέμνειν ὁδόν make one's way (poet.),
τειχίζειν χωρίον fortify a place, but
τειχίζειν τεῖχος build a wall. Cp.
E. Supp. 1060: A.
νι_κῶσα νί_κην τίνα; μαθεῖν χρῄζω σέθεν. B.
πά_σα_ς γυναῖκας, κτλ. A.
Victorious in what victory? This I would learn of thee. B.
Over all women. Here the construction shifts from the internal to the external object.
[*] 1556. The direct object of an active transitive verb becomes the subject of the passive:
ὁ παῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς τύπτεται the boy is struck by the man.
a. The object of a verb governing the genitive or dative as principal object may also become the subject of the passive (
1340).
[*] 1557. In Greek many verbs are transitive the ordinary English equivalents of which are intransitive and require a preposition. So
σιωπᾶν τι, σι_γᾶν τι to keep silence about something.
[*] 1558. Many verbs that are usually intransitive are also used transitively in Greek. Thus,
ἀσεβεῖν sin against,
δυσχεραίνειν be disgusted at,
χαίρειν rejoice at,
ἥδεσθαι be pleased at,
δακρύ_ειν weep for. Cp. 1595 b.
a. Poetical:
ᾁσσειν agitate, ““
περᾶν πόδα”
pass on her way”
E. Hec. 53,
πλεῖν sail,
κροταλίζειν rattle along (““
κροτεῖν”
strike”
Hdt. 6.58),
λάμπειν make shine,
χορεύειν θεόν, ἑλίσσειν θεόν celebrate the god by choruses, by dancing.
[*] 1559. Many intransitive verbs are used transitively when compounded with a preposition, e.g.
ἀναμάχεσθαι fight over again.—
ἀπομάχεσθαι drive off,
ἀποστρέφεσθαι abandon,
ἀποχωρεῖν leave.—
διαβαίνειν pass over,
διαπλεῖν sail across,
διεξέρχεσθαι go through.—
εἰσιέναι come into the mind,
εἰσπλεῖν said into.—
ἐκβαίνειν pass,
ἐκτρέπεσθαι get out of the way of,
ἐξαναχωρεῖν shun,
ἐξίστασθαι avoid.—
ἐπιστρατεύειν march against.—
καταναυμαχεῖν beat at sea,
καταπολεμεῖν subdue completely,
καταπολι_τεύεσθαι reduce by policy.—
μετέρχεσθαι seek,
pursue,
μετιέναι go in quest of.—
παραβαίνειν transgress.—
περιιέναι go round,
περιίστασθαι surround.—
προσοικεῖν dwell in,
προσπαίζειν sing in praise of.—
ὑπερβαίνειν omit.—
ὑπεξέρχεσθαι escape from.—
ὑπέρχεσθαι fawn on,
ὑποδύ_εσθαι withstand,
ὑποχωρεῖν shun,
ὑφίστασθαι withstand.
[*] 1560. Conversely, many verbs that are usually transitive are used intransitively (with gen., dat., or with a preposition). Some of these are mentioned in 1591, 1592, 1595. Sometimes there is a difference in meaning, as
ἀρέσκειν =
satisfy, with accus., =
please, with dat.
[*] 1561. The same verb may be used transitively or intransitively, often with little difference of signification. Cp.
1709. This is generally indicated in the treatment of the cases, e.g.
αἰσθάνεσθαί τι or
τινος perceive something,
ἐνθυ_μεῖσθαί τι or
τινι consider something,
μέμφεσθαί τινα or
τινι blame some one.
[*] 1562. On
δεῖ μοί τινος and
δεῖ μέ τινος see
1400. With the inf. the accus. is usual (dat. and inf.
X. A. 3.4.35).
χρή μέ τινος is poetical; with the inf.
χρή takes the accus. (except
L. 28.10, where some read
δικαίους). (
χρή is an old noun; cp.
χρεώ, χρεία need and 793.)
INTERNAL OBJECT (OBJECT EFFECTED）
COGNATE ACCUSATIVE
[*] 1563. The cognate accusative is of two kinds, of which the second is an extension of the first.
[*] 1564. (I) The substantive in the accusative is of the
same origin as the verb.
““
πολλὴν φλυα_ρία_ν φλυα_ροῦντα”
talking much nonsense”
P. A. 19c,
ξυνέφυγε τὴν φυγὴν ταύτην he shared in the recent exile 21 a, ““
τὴν ἐν Σαλαμῖνι ναυμαχία_ν ναυμαχήσαντες”
victorious in the sea-fight at Salamis”
D. 59.97,
τὰ_ς ὑποσχέσεις ἃ_ς οὗτος ὑπι_σχνεῖτο the promises which he made 19. 47, ““
ἡ αἰτία_ ἣν αἰτιῶνται”
the charge they bring”
Ant. 6.27.
a. Sometimes the verb may be suppressed, as
ἡμῖν μὲν εὐχὰ_ς τά_σδε (
εὔχομαι)
for us these prayers A. Ch. 142.
[*] 1565. The cognate accusative occurs even with adjectives of an intransitive character: ““
μήτε τι σοφὸς ὢν τὴν ἐκείνων σοφία_ν μήτε ἀμαθὴς τὴν ἀμαθία_ν”
being neither at all wise after the fashion of their wisdom nor ignorant after the fashion of their ignorance”
P. A. 22e,
ἀτί_μους ἐποίησαν ἀτι_μία_ν τοιά_νδε ὥστε κτλ.
they disfranchised them in such a way that, etc.
T. 5.34 (
ἀτί_μους ἐποίησαν ῀ ἠτί_μησαν, cp.
1598).
[*] 1566.
Passive: ““
πόλεμος ἐπολεμεῖτο”
war was waged”
X. H. 4.8.1.
[*] 1567. (II) The substantive in the accusative is of
kindred meaning with the verb.
““
ἐξῆλθον ἄλλα_ς ὁδούς”
they went forth on other expeditions”
X. H. 1.2.17, ““
τὸν ἱερὸν καλούμενον πόλεμον ἐστράτευσαν”
they waged what is called the Sacred War”
T. 1.112, ““
ἠσθένησε ταύτην τὴν νόσον”
he fell ill of this disease”
I. 19.24, ““
ἀνθρώπου φύσιν βλαστών”
born to man's estate”
S. Aj. 760.
[*] 1568.
Passive: ““
πόλεμος ἐταράχθη”
war was stirred up”
D. 18.151.
[*] 1569. An extension of the cognate accusative appears in poetry with
κεῖσθαι, στῆναι, καθίζειν and like verbs: ““
τόπον, ὅντινα κεῖται”
the place in which he is situated”
S. Ph. 145,
τί ἕστηκε πέτρα_ν;
why stands she on the rock? E. Supp. 987, ““
τρίποδα καθίζων”
sitting on the tripod”
E. Or. 956.
[*] 1570. An attributive word is usually necessary (but not in Hom.); otherwise the addition of the substantive to the verb would be tautologous. But the attribute is omitted:
a. When the nominal idea is specialized: ““
φυλακὰ_ς φυλάττειν”
to stand sentry”
X. A. 2.6.10,
φόρον φέρειν to pay tribute 5. 5. 7.
b. When the substantive is restricted by the article: ““
τὸν πόλεμον πολεμεῖν”
to wage the present war”
T. 8.58,
τὴν πομπὴν πέμπειν to conduct the procession 6. 56.
c. When a plural substantive denotes repeated occurrences: ““
ἐτριηράρχησε τριηραρχία_ς”
he performed the duty of trierarch”
D. 45.85.
d. In various expressions: ““
Ὀλύμπια νι_κᾶν”
to win an Olympian victory”
T. 1.126, ““
τὴν ναυμαχία_ν νι_κῆσαι”
to be victorious in the sea-fight”
L. 19.28, ““
θύ_ειν τὰ εὐαγγέλια”
to offer a sacrifice in honour of good news”
X. H. 1.6.37.
e. In poetry the use of a substantive to denote a special form of the action of the verb is much extended:
στάζειν αἷμα to drip (drops of)
blood S. Ph. 783, ““
Ἄρηπνεῖν”
to breathe war”
A. Ag. 375,
πῦρ δεδορκώς looking (a look of)
fire τ 446. This use is common, especially in Aristophanes, with verbs signifying the
look of another than the speaker:
βλέπειν νᾶπυ to look mustard Eq. 631,
βλέπειν ἀπιστία_ν to look unbelief Com. fr. 1. 341 (No.
309); cp. “looked his faith”: Holmes.
[*] 1571. The substantive without an attribute is (rarely) added to the verb as a more emphatic form of statement:
λῆρον ληρεῖν to talk sheer nonsense Ar. Pl. 517, ““
ὕβριν ὑβρίζειν”
to insult grievously”
E. H. F. 708. Often in Euripides.
[*] 1572. The substantive may be omitted, leaving only the adjectival attribute:
παῖσον διπλῆν (
scil.
πληγήν)
strike twice (a double blow)
S. El. 1415,
τοῦτον ἀνέκραγον ὡς ὀλίγα_ς (
scil.
πληγὰ_ς)
παίσειεν they called out that he had dealt him too (
1063)
few blows
X. A. 5.8.12. Cp.
1028.
[*] 1573. Usually an adjective, pronoun, or pronominal adjective is treated as a neuter substantive. Cp. ““
μεγάλ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν”
to commit grave errors”
D. 5.5 with
μέγιστα ἁμαρτήματα ἁμαρτάνουσι P. G. 525d. The singular adjective is used in certain common phrases in prose, but is mainly poetical; the plural is ordinarily used in prose.
ἡδὺ γελᾶν poet. (=
ἡδὺν γέλωτα γελᾶν)
to laugh sweetly,
μέγα (
ψεῦδος)
ψεύδεται he is a great liar, ““
μέγα φρονήσα_ς ἐπὶ τούτῳ”
highly elated at this”
X. A. 3.1.27,
μεῖζον φρονεῖ he is too proud 5. 6. 8, ““
τὰ τῶν Ἑλλήνων φρονεῖν”
to be on the side of the Greeks”
D. 14.34, ““
μέγιστον ἐδύναντο”
had the greatest influence”
L. 30.14, ““
δεινὰ ὑβρίζειν”
to maltreat terribly”
X. A. 6.4.2, ““
ταὐτὰ ἐπρεσβεύομεν”
we fulfilled our mission as ambassadors in the same way”
D. 19.32,
τί βούλεται ἡμῖν χρῆσθαι;
what use does he wish to make of us? X. A. 1.3.18 (=
τίνα βούλεται χρεία_ν χρῆσθαι, cp.
χρῆσθαί τινι χρείαν P. L. 868b).
[*] 1574.
Passive: ““
τοῦτο οὐκ ἐψεύσθησαν”
they were not deceived in this”
X. A. 2.2.13, ““
ταῦτα οὐδεὶς ἂν πεισθείη”
no one would be persuaded of this”
P. L. 836d.
[*] 1575. For a cognate accusative in conjunction with a second object, see
1620.
[*] 1576. Note the expressions
δικάζειν δίκην decide a case,
δικάζεσθαι δίκην τινί go to law with somebody,
διώκειν γραφήν τινα indict somebody,
φεύγειν δίκην τινός be put on one's trial for something; γράφεσθαί τινα γραφήν indict one for a public offence,
φεύγειν γραφήν be put on one's trial for a public offence. Also
ἀγωνίζεσθαι στάδιον (=
ἀγῶνα σταδίου)
be a contestant in the race-course,
νι_κᾶν στάδιον be victorious in the race-course,
νι_κᾶν δίκην win a case,
νι_κᾶν γνώμην carry a resolution (pass.
γνώμην ἡττᾶσθαι),
ὀφλεῖν δίκην lose a case.
[*] 1577. The (rarer) dative (
φόβῳ ταρβεῖν, βιαίῳ θανάτῳ ἀποθνῄσκειν, φεύγειν φυγῇ) expresses the cause (
1517), manner (
1513), or means (
1507).
ACCUSATIVE OF RESULT
[*] 1578. The accusative of result denotes the effect enduring after the verbal action has ceased.
ἕλκος οὐτάσαι to smite (and thus
make)
a wound E 361 (so
οὐλὴν ἐλαύνειν ψ 74),
πρεσβεύειν τὴν εἰρήνην to negotiate the peace (go as ambassadors (
πρέσβεις) to make the peace)
D. 19.134, but
πρεσβεύειν πρεσβεία_ν to go on an embassy Dinarchus 1. 16, ““
νόμισμα κόπτειν”
to coin money”
Hdt. 3.56,
σπονδὰ_ς, or
ὅρκια, τέμνειν (
1555).
[*] 1579. Verbs signifying
to effect anything (
αἴρειν raise,
αὔξειν exalt,
διδάσκειν teach,
τρέφειν rear,
παιδεύειν train) show the result of their action upon a substantive or adjective predicate to the direct object: ““
σὲ Θῆβαί γ᾽ οὐκ ἐπαίδευσαν κακόν”
Thebes did not train thee to be base”
S. O. C. 919, ““
τοῦτον τρέφειν τε καὶ αὔξειν μέγαν”
to nurse and exalt him into greatness”
P. R. 565c, ““
ἐποικοδομήσαντες αὐτὸ ὑψηλότερον”
raising it higher”
T. 7.4. Such predicate nouns are called proleptic. Passive: ““
μέγας ἐκ μι_κροῦ Φίλιππος ηὔξηται”
Philip has grown from a mean to be a mighty person”
D. 9.21. Cp.
1613.
ACCUSATIVE OF EXTENT
[*] 1580. The accusative denotes extent in space and time.
[*] 1581.
Space.—The accusative denotes the space or way
over which an action is extended, and the measure of the space traversed.
ἄγειν (
στρατιὰ_ν) ““
στενὰ_ς ὁδούς”
to lead an army over narrow roads”
X. C. 1.6.43,
ἐξελαύνει σταθμοὺς τρεῖς, παρασάγγα_ς εἴκοσι καὶ δύο he advances three stages, twenty- two parasangs X. A. 1.2.5, ““
ἀπέχει ἡ Πλάταια τῶν Θηβῶν σταδίους ἑβδομήκοντα”
Plataea is seventy stades distant from Thebes”
T. 2.5.
a. This use is analogous to the cognate accusative after verbs of motion (
ἐξόδους ἐξελθεῖν, πλεῖν θάλατταν).
[*] 1582.
Time.—The accusative denotes extent of time.
““
ἔμεινεν ἡμέρα_ς ἑπτά”
he remained seven days”
X. A. 1.2.6, ““
ξυμμαχία_ν ἐποιήσαντο ἑκατὸν ἔτη”
they made an alliance for a hundred years”
T. 3.114.
[*] 1583. The accusative of time implies that the action of the verb covers the
entire period. When emphasis is laid on the uninterrupted duration of an action,
παρά with the accusative (
1692. 3. b) and
διά with the genitive (
1685. 1. b) are used. The accusative of time is rarely employed where the dative (
1540) is properly in place:
τήνδε τὴν ἡμέρα_ν Aes. 3.7.
[*] 1584. Duration of life may be expressed by
γεγονώς: ““
ἔτη γεγονὼς ἑβδομήκοντα”
seventy years old”
P. A. 17d. (Also by
εἶναι and the genitive, 1327.)
[*] 1585. To mark (a)
how long a situation has lasted or (b) how much time has elapsed since something happened, an ordinal is used without the article, but often with the addition of
οὑτοσί_. The current day or year is included. Thus (a) ““
τὴν μητέρα τελευτήσα_σαν τρίτον ἔτος τουτί_”
my mother who died two years ago”
L. 24.6, ““
ἐπιδεδήμηκε τρίτην ἤδη ἡμέρα_ν”
he has been in the city since day before yesterday”
P. Pr. 309d. (b) ““
ἀπηγγέλθη Φίλιππος τρίτον ἢ τέταρτον ἔτος τουτὶ_ Ἡραῖον τεῖχος πολιορκῶν”
this is the third or fourth year since it was announced that Philip was besieging fort Heraeum”
D. 3.4.
[*] 1586. On the accusative of extent in degree, see
1609. With a comparative we find
πολύ and
ὀλίγον as well as
πολλῷ and
ὀλίγῳ (
1514); and always
τί, τὶ, οὐδέν with the comparative.
[*] 1587. Time and degree are often expressed by prepositions with the accusative. See Prepositions under
ἀμφί, ἀνά, διά, ἐπί, κατά, παρά, πρός, ὑπό.
TERMINAL ACCUSATIVE (IN POETRY)
[*] 1588. In poetry after verbs of motion the accusative may be used without a preposition to express the goal.
““
ἄστυ Καδμεῖον μολών”
having come to the city of Cadmus”
S. O. T. 35, ““
πέμψομέν νιν Ἑλλάδα”
we will convey her to Greece”
E. Tro. 883. Of
persons in Hom. (especially with
ἱκνέομαι, ἵκω, ἱκά_νω =
reach) and in the lyric parts of the drama: ““
μνηστῆρας ἀφί_κετο”
came unto the suitors”
α 332. Cp. “arrived our coast”: Shakesp. In
Hdt. 9.26 φαμὲν ἡμέας ἱκνέεσθαι means
we declare that it befits us.
[*] 1589. The limit of motion is also expressed by
-δε (
ἄστυδε Hom., in prose,
Ἀθήναζε ῀ Ἀθήνα_ς ¨ δε; χαμᾶζε or
χαμάζε ῀ χαμα_ς ¨ δε, cp.
χαμα-ί; οἴκαδε) and, regularly in prose, by
εἰς, ἐπί, παρά, πρός, ὡς (with a person) with the accusative.
EXTERNAL OBJECT (OBJECT AFFECTED）
[*] 1590. Of the many transitive verbs taking this accusative the following deserve mention:
[*] 1591. (I)
To do anything to or
say anything of a person.
a. εὖ (
καλῶς)
ποιεῖν, δρᾶν (rarely with
πρά_ττειν),
εὐεργετεῖν, ὀνινάναι, ὠφελεῖν (also with dat.),
θεραπεύειν, κακῶς ποιεῖν, κακοῦν, κακουργεῖν, βλάπτειν, ἀδικεῖν, ὑβρίζειν, βιάζεσθαι, ἀμείβεσθαι requite,
τι_μωρεῖσθαι punish,
λυ_μαίνεσθαι (also with dat.),
λωβᾶσθαι (also with dat.).
b. εὖ (
καλῶς)
λέγειν, εὐλογεῖν, κολακεύειν, θωπεύειν, προσκυνεῖν, κακῶς λέγειν, κακολογεῖν, κακηγορεῖν, λοιδορεῖν.
[*] 1592.
συμφέρειν and
λυ_σιτελεῖν profit,
βοηθεῖν help,
λοιδορεῖσθαι rail at take the dat.,
ἀδικεῖν injure and
ὑβρίζειν insult also take
εἴς τινα or
πρός τινα.
[*] 1593.
εὖ (
κακῶς)
ἀκούειν, πάσχειν are used as the passives of
εὖ (
κακῶς)
λέγειν, ποιεῖν. Cp.
1752.
[*] 1594. Many of the above-mentioned verbs take a double accusative (
1622).
[*] 1595. (II) Verbs expressing emotion and its manifestations.
a. φοβεῖσθαι, δεδιέναι, τρεῖν, ἐκπλήττεσθαι, καταπλήττεσθαι fear,
πτήσσειν crouch before,
εὐλαβεῖσθαι beware of,
θαρρεῖν have no fear of (have confidence in),
αἰδεῖσθαι stand in awe of,
αἰσχύ_νεσθαι feel shame before,
δυσχεραίνειν be disgusted at,
ἐλεεῖν pity,
πενθεῖν, θρηνεῖν, δακρύ_ειν, κλά_ειν (
κλαίειν)
lament,
weep over.
b. χαίρειν rejoice at and
ἥδεσθαι be pleased to hear take the accus. of a person only in the poets and only with a predicate participle (
2100).
αἰσχύ_νεσθαι, χαίρειν, ἥδεσθαι, δυσχεραίνειν usually take the dat. in prose.
θαρρεῖν may take the instr. dat. (
Hdt. 3.76).
[*] 1596. (III) Verbs of swearing.
ὀμνύναι swear by (
τοὺς θεούς, pass.
Ζεὺς ὀμώμοται) and
swear to (
τὸν ὅρκον, pass.
ὁ ὅρκος ὀμώμοται). So
ἐπιορκεῖν swear falsely by.
a. ὀμνύναι τοὺς θεούς may be an abbreviation of
ὀμνύναι ὅρκον (internal object)
τῶν θεῶν.
b. The accusative is used in asseverations with the adverbs of swearing
μά, οὐ μά, ναὶ μά, νή.
Nay,
by Zeus: μὰ (
τὸν)
Δία, οὐ μὰ (
τὸν)
Δία.
Yea,
by Zeus: ναὶ μὰ (
τὸν)
Δία, νὴ (
τὸν)
Δία.
μά is negative, except when preceded by
ναί. μά may stand alone when a negative precedes (often in a question) or when a negative follows in the next clause:
μὰ τὸν Ἀπόλλω, οὔκ Ar. Thesm. 269.
μά is sometimes omitted after
οὐ, and after
ναί:
οὐ τὸν Ὄλυμπον S. O. T. 1088,
ναὶ τὰ_ν κόρα_ν Ar. Vesp. 1438.
c. The name of the deity may be omitted in Attic under the influence of sudden scrupulousness:
μὰ τὸν—ου᾽ σύ γε not you, by—
P. G. 466e.
[*] 1597. (IV) Various other verbs.
φεύγειν flee from,
ἀποδιδρά_σκειν escape from,
ἐνεδρεύειν lie in wait for,
φθάνειν anticipate,
φυλάττεσθαι guard oneself against,
ἀμύ_νεσθαι defend oneself against,
λανθάνειν escape the notice of,
μένειν wait for,
ἐκλείπειν and
ἐπιλείπειν give out,
fail (““
τὸ στράτευμα ὁ σῖτος ἐπέλιπε”
corn failed the army”
X. A. 1.5.6).
[*] 1598. The accusative is rarely found after verbal nouns and adjectives, and in periphrastic expressions equivalent to a transitive verb. (This usage is post-Homeric and chiefly poetical.)
χοὰ_ς προπομπός (=
προπέμπουσα)
escorting the libations A. Ch. 23, ““
τὰ μετέωρα φροντιστής”
a speculator about things above the earth”
P. A. 18b, ““
ἐπιστήμονες ἦσαν τὰ προσήκοντα”
they were acquainted with their duties”
X. C. 3.3.9,
πόλεμος ἄπορα πόριμος war providing difficulties (things for which there is no provision)
A. Pr. 904,
πολλὰ συνίστωρ (a house)
full of guilty secrets A. Ag. 1090, ““
σὲ φύξιμος”
able to escape thee”
S. Ant. 787;
ἔξαρνός εἰμι (=
ἐξαρνοῦμαι)
τὰ ἐρωτώμενα say ‘
no’
to the question P. Charm. 158c, ““
τεθνᾶσι τῷ δέει τοὺς ἀποστόλους”
they are in mortal fear of the envoys”
D. 4.45; other cases 1612.
[*] 1599.
Elliptical Accusative.—The accusative is sometimes used elliptically.
οὗτος, ὦ σέ τοι (
scil.
καλῶ)
ho! you there,
I am calling you! Ar. Av. 274,
μή, πρός σε θεῶν τλῇς με προδοῦναι (=
μή, πρὸς θεῶν σε αἰτῶ)
do not,
I implore thee by the gods, have the heart to leave me! E. Alc. 275,
μή μοι πρόφασιν (
scil.
πάρεχε)
no excuse! Ar. Ach. 345. Cp.
946.
FREE USES OF THE ACCUSATIVE
ACCUSATIVE OF RESPECT
[*] 1600. To verbs denoting a state, and to adjectives, an accusative may be added to denote a thing
in respect to which the verb or adjective is limited.
a. The accusative usually expresses a local relation or the instrument. The word restricted by the accusative usually denotes
like or
similar to, good or
better,
bad or
worse, a physical or a mental quality, or an emotion.
[*] 1601. The accusative of respect is employed
a. Of the parts of the body: ““
ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὸν δάκτυλον ἀλγεῖ”
the man has a pain in his finger”
P. R. 462d, ““
τυφλὸς τά τ᾽ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τ᾽ ὄμματ᾽ εἶ”
blind art thou in ears, and mind, and eyes”
S. O. T. 371,
πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς Hom.
N.—The accusative of the
part in apposition to the
whole (
985) belongs here, as is seen by the passive. Cp. ““
τὸν πλῆξ᾽ αὐχένα”
him he smote on the neck”
Λ 240 (
βάλε θοῦρον Ἄρηα κατ᾽ αὐχένα Φ 406) with
βέβληαι κενεῶνα thou art smitten in the abdomen E 284.
b. Of qualities and attributes (nature, form, size, name, birth, number, etc.): ““
διαφέρει γυνὴ ἀνδρὸς τὴν φύσιν”
woman differs from man in nature”
P. R. 453b, ““
οὐδὲ ἔοικεν θνητὰ_ς ἀ_θανάτῃσι δέμας καὶ εἶδος ἐρίζειν”
nor is it seemly that mortal women should rival the immortals in form and appearance”
ε 213,
ποταμός, Κύδνος ὄνομα, εὖρος δύο πλέθρων a river,
Cydnus by name, two plethra in width X. A. 1.2.23 (so with
ὕψος, βάθος, μέγεθος),
πλῆθος ὡς δισχί_λιοι about two thousand in number 4. 2. 2, ““
λέξον ὅστις εἶ γένος”
tell me of what race thou art”
E. Bacch. 460.
c. Of the sphere in general: ““
δεινοὶ μάχην”
terrible in battle”
A. Pers. 27, ““
γένεσθε τὴν διάνοιαν”
transfer yourselves in thought”
Aes. 3.153, ““
τὸ μὲν ἐπ᾽ ἐμοὶ οἴχομαι, τὸ δ᾽ ἐπὶ σοὶ σέσωσμαι”
so far as I myself was concerned I was lost, but through you am saved”
X. C. 5.4.11. Often of indefinite relations: ““
πάντα κακός”
base in all things”
S. O. T. 1421, ““
ταῦτα ἀγαθὸς ἕκαστος ἡμῶν, ἅπερ σοφός, ἃ δὲ ἀμαθής, ταῦτα δὲ κακός”
each one of us is good in matters in which he is skilled, but bad in those in which he is ignorant”
P. Lach. 194d.
[*] 1602. Very rarely after substantives:
χεῖρας αἰχμητής a warrior valiant with (
thy)
arm π 242, ““
νεα_νίαι τὰ_ς ὄψεις”
youths by their appearance”
L. 10.29.
[*] 1603. For the acccusative of respect the instrumental dative (
1516) is also employed, and also the prepositions
εἰς, κατά, πρός, e.g.
διαφέρειν ἀρετῇ or
εἰς ἀρετήν.
[*] 1604. Not to be confused with the accusative of respect is the accusative after intransitive adjectives (
1565) or after the passives of 1632.
[*] 1605. The accusative of respect is probably in its origin, at least in part, an accusative of the internal object.
ADVERBIAL ACCUSATIVE
[*] 1606. Many accusatives marking limitations of the verbal action serve the same function as adverbs.
[*] 1607. Most of these adverbial accusatives are accusatives of the internal object: thus, in
τέλος δὲ εἶπε but at last he said,
τέλος is to be regarded as standing in apposition to an unexpressed object of the verb—
words,
which were the end. Many adverbial accusatives are thus accusatives in apposition (
991) and some are accusatives of respect (
1600). It is impossible to apportion all cases among the varieties of the accusatives; many may be placed under different heads. The use of adjectives as adverbs (
μέγα πλούσιος very rich) is often derived from the cognate accusative with verbs (
μέγα πλουτεῖν).
[*] 1608.
Manner.—
τρόπον τινά in some way,
τίνα τρόπον in what way? τόνδε (
τοῦτον)
τὸν τρόπον in this way,
πάντα τρόπον in every way (also
παντὶ τρόπῳ),
τὴν ταχίστην (
ὁδόν)
in the quickest way,
τὴν εὐθεῖαν (
ὁδόν)
straightforward,
προῖκα, δωρεά_ν gratis (
1616),
δίκην after the fashion of (““
δίκην τοξότου”
like an archer”
P. L. 705e),
πρόφασιν in pretence (““
ἔπλεε πρόφασιν ἐπ᾽ Ἑλλησπόντου”
he sailed professedly for the Hellespont”
Hdt. 5.33),
χάριν for the sake of (lit.
favour）
: ““
οὐ τὴν Ἀθηναίων χάριν ἐστρατεύοντο”
did not engage in the expedition out of good will to the Athenians”
Hdt. 5.99, ““
τοῦ χάριν”
for what reason?”
Ar. Plut. 53, ““
τὴν σὴν ἥκω χάριν”
for thy sake I have come”
S. Ph. 1413. Cp.
993.
[*] 1609.
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).
[*] 1610.
Motive.—
τί why? τοῦτο, ταῦτα for this reason (cognate accus.):
τί ἦλθες quid (
cur)
venisti =
τίνα ἷξιν ἦλθες; τοῦτο χαίρω ( =
ταύτην τὴν χαρὰ_ν χαίρω)
therefore I rejoice, ““
αὐτὰ ταῦτα ἥκω”
for this very reason have I come”
P. Pr. 310e, ““
τοῦτ᾽ ἄχθεσθε”
for this reason you are vexed”
X. A. 3.2.20.
[*] 1611.
Time and Succession (
1582):
τὸ νῦν now,
τὸ πάλαι of old,
πρότερον before,
τὸ πρότερον the former time,
πρῶτον first,
τὸ κατ᾽ ἀρχά_ς in the beginning,
τὸ πρῶτον in the first place,
τὸ τελευταῖον in the last place (for
τὸ δεύτερον in a series use
ἔπειτα or
ἔπειτα δέ),
τὸ λοιπόν for the future,
ἀκμήν at the point, just,
καιρόν in season.
TWO ACCUSATIVES WITH ONE VERB
[*] 1612. A compound expression, consisting of the accusative of an abstract substantive and
ποιεῖσθαι, τίθεσθαι, ἔχειν, etc., is often treated as a simple verb; and, when transitive, governs the accusative:
τὴν χώρα_ν καταδρομαῖς λεία_ν ἐποιεῖτο ( =
ἐλῄζετο)
he ravaged the country by his incursions T. 8.41,
Ἰ_λίου φθορὰ_ς ψήφους ἔθεντο ( =
ἐψηφίσαντο)
they voted for the destruction of Ilium A. Ag. 814,
μομφὴν ἔχω ἓν μὲν πρῶτά σοι ( =
ἓν μέμφομαι)
I blame thee first for one thing E. Or. 1069,
τὰ δ᾽ ἐν μέσῳ λῆστιν ἴσχεις ( =
ἐπιλανθάνει)
what lies between thou hast no memory of S. O. C. 583. See
1598. So with other periphrases in poetry:
τέκνα μηκύ_νω λόγον ( =
μακρότερον προσφωνῶ)
I speak at length to my children S. O. C. 1120,
εἰ δέ μ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἀεὶ λόγους ἐξῆρχες ( =
ἤρχου λέγειν)
if thou didst always (
begin to)
address me thus S. El. 556.
EXTERNAL OBJECT AND PREDICATE ACCUSATIVE
[*] 1613. Verbs meaning
to appoint, call,
choose,
consider,
make,
name,
show, and the like, may take a second accusative as a predicate to the direct object.
““
στρατηγὸν αὐτὸν ἀπέδειξε”
he appointed him general”
X. A. 1.1.2,
πατέρα ἐμὲ ἐκαλεῖτε you were wont to call me father 7. 6. 38, ““
αἱρεῖσθαι αὐτὸν τὸν Ἰνδῶν βασιλέα_ δικαστήν”
to choose the king of the Indians himself to be arbitrator”
X. C. 2.4.8, ““
οὐ γὰρ δίκαιον οὔτε τοὺς κακοὺς μάτην χρηστοὺς νομίζειν οὔτε τοὺς χρηστοὺς κακούς”
for it is not just to consider bad men good at random, or good men bad”
S. O. T. 609, ““
Τι_μόθεον στρατηγὸν ἐχειροτόνησαν”
they elected Timotheus general”
X. H. 6.2.11, ““
τὴν σι_γήν σου ξυγχώρησιν θήσω”
I shall consider your silence as consent”
P. Crat. 435b, ““
ἑαυτὸν δεσπότην πεποίηκεν”
he has made himself master”
X. C. 1.3.18, ““
ἐὰ_ν ἐμὲ σὸν θεράποντα ποιήσῃ”
if you make me your servant”
X. O. 7.42, ““
εἰς τοὺς Ἕλληνας σαυτὸν σοφιστὴν παρέχων”
showing yourself a sophist before the Greeks”
P. Pr. 312a, ““
εὐμαθῆ πάντα παρέχειν”
to render everything easy to learn”
X. O. 20.14. Cp.
1579.
[*] 1614. The absence of the article generally distinguishes the predicate noun from the object: ““
ἐπηγγέλλετο τοὺς κόλακας τοὺς αὑτοῦ πλουσιωτάτους τῶν πολι_τῶν ποιήσειν”
he promised to make his flatterers the richest of the citizens”
L. 28.4.
[*] 1615. Especially in Plato and Herodotus, after verbs signifying
to name, to call, the predicate noun may be connected with the external object by (a redundant)
εἶναι (
911); ““
σοφιστὴν ὀνομάζουσι τὸν ἄνδρα εἶναι”
they call the man a sophist”
P. Pr. 311e, ““
ἐπωνυμία_ν ἔχει σμι_κρός τε καὶ μέγας εἶναι”
he is called both short and tall”
P. Ph. 102c. This is due to the analogy of verbs signifying
to think or
say (
1041).
[*] 1616. A predicate accusative may stand in apposition to the object:
ἔδωκα δωρειὰ_ν τὰ λύτρα I gave them
the price of their ransom as a free gift D. 19.170.
[*] 1617. This use is the source of many adverbial accusatives (
993,
1606 ff.).
[*] 1618.
Passive: both the object and the predicate accusative of the active construction become nominative (
1743) in the passive construction:
αὐτὸς στρα- ““
τηγὸς ᾑρέθη”
he himself was chosen general”
L. 12.65, ““
αὐτοὶ νομοθέται κληθήσονται”
they shall themselves be called lawgivers”
P. L. 681d.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL OBJECT WITH ONE VERB
[*] 1619. Many verbs take both an internal and an external object.
[*] 1620. The external object refers to a person, the internal object (cognate accusative, 1563 ff.) refers to a thing. Here the internal object stands in closer relation to the verb.
““
ὁ πόλεμος ἀείμνηστον παιδεία_ν αὐτοὺς ἐπαίδευσε”
the war taught them a lesson they will hold in everlasting remembrance”
Aes. 3.148, ““
τοσοῦτον ἔχθος ἐχθαίρω σε”
I hate thee with such an hate”
S. El. 1034, ““
Μέλητός με ἐγράψατο τὴν γραφὴν ταύτην”
Meletus brought this accusation against me”
P. A. 19b,
ἕλκος, τό μιν βάλε the wound that he dealt him E 795 (
1578), ““
Μιλτιάδης ὁ τὴν ἐν Μαραθῶνι μάχην τοὺς βαρβάρους νι_κήσα_ς”
Miltiades who won the battle at Marathon over the barbarians”
Aes. 3.181,
τὸν ἄνδρα τύπτειν τὰ_ς πληγά_ς to strike the man the blows Ant. 4.
γ. 1, ““
καλοῦσί με τοῦτο τὸ ὄνομα”
they give me this appellation”
X. O. 7.3.
[*] 1621.
Passive (
1747): ““
πᾶσαν θεραπεία_ν θεραπευόμενος”
receiving every manner of service”
P. Phae. 255a, ““
τύπτεσθαι πεντήκοντα πληγά_ς”
to be struck fifty blows”
Aes. 1.139,
ἡ κρίσις, ἣν ἐκρίθη the sentence that was pronounced upon him
L. 13.50, ““
τὰ_ς μάχα_ς, ὅσα_ς Πέρσαι ἡττήθησαν ἐῶ”
I omit the battles in which the Persians were defeated”
I. 4.145, ““
ὄνομα ἓν κεκλημένοι Σικελιῶται”
called by the one name of Sicilians”
T. 4.64.
[*] 1622. So with verbs signifying
to do anything to or
say anything of a person (
1591): ““
πολλὰ ἀγαθὰ ὑ_μᾶς ἐποίησεν”
he did you much good”
L. 5.3, ““
ταυτί_ με ποιοῦσι”
that's what they are doing to me”
Ar. Vesp. 696, ““
τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐπαινῶ Ἀ_γησίλα_ον”
I praise Agesilaus for such merits”
X. Ages. 10.1,
τοὺς Κορινθίους πολλά τε και<*> κακὰ ἔλεγε he said many bad things about the Corinthians Hdt. 8.61. For the accusative of the thing,
εὖ (
καλῶς),
κακῶς may be substituted; and
εἰς and
πρός with the accusative occur.
[*] 1623. The accusative of the person may depend on the idea expressed by the combination of verb and accusative of the thing (
1612); as in ““
τοὺς πολεμίους εἰργάσθαι κακά”
to have done harm to the enemy”
L. 21.8 (here
εἰργάσθαι of itself does not mean
to do anything to a person).
[*] 1624. When the dative of the person is used, something is done
for (
1474), not
to him: ““
πάντα ἐποίησαν τοῖς ἀποθανοῦσιν”
they rendered all honours to the dead”
X. A. 4.2.23.
εἰς or
πρός with the accusative is also employed.
[*] 1625.
Passive of 1622: ““
ὅσα ἄλλα ἡ πόλις ἠδικεῖτο”
all the other wrongs that the State has suffered”
D. 18.70.
[*] 1626.
Verbs of dividing (
νέμειν, κατανέμειν, διαιρεῖν, τέμνειν) may take two accusatives, one of the thing divided, the other of its parts (cognate accus.). Thus, ““
Κῦρος τὸ στράτευμα κατένειμε δώδεκα μέρη”
Cyrus divided the army into twelve divisions”
X. C. 7.5.13.
εἰς or
κατά may be used with the accusative of the parts.
[*] 1627.
Passive: ““
διῄρηται ἡ ἀγορὰ_ τέτταρα μέρη”
the Agora is divided into four parts”
X. C. 1.2.4.
εἰς and
κατά may be used with the accusative of the parts.
DOUBLE OBJECT WITH VERBS SIGNIFYING TO ASK, DEMAND, ETC.
[*] 1628. Verbs signifying
to ask, clothe or
unclothe,
conceal,
demand,
deprive,
persuade,
remind,
teach, take two objects in the accusative, one of a person, the other of a thing.
““
οὐ τοῦτ᾽ ἐρωτῶ σε”
that's not the question I'm asking you”
Ar. Nub. 641; ““
χιτῶνα τὸν ἑαυτοῦ ἐκεῖνον ἠμφίεσε”
he put his own tunic on him”
X. C. 1.3.17, ““
ἰδοὺ δ᾽ Ἀπόλλων αὐτὸς ἐκδύ_ων ἐμὲ χρηστηρία_ν ἐσθῆτα”
lo Apollo himself divests me of my oracular garb”
A. Ag. 1269; ““
τὴν θυγατέρα ἔκρυπτε τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ἀνδρός”
he concealed from his daughter her husband's death”
L. 32.7; ““
Κῦρον αἰτεῖν πλοῖα”
to ask Cyrus for boats”
X. A. 1.3.14, ““
ὡς ἐγώ ποτέ τινα ἢ ἐπρα_ξάμην μισθὸν ἢ ᾔτησα”
that I ever exacted or asked pay of any one”
P. A. 31c; ““
τούτων τὴν τι_μὴν ἀποστερεῖ με”
he deprives me of the value of these things”
D. 28.13; ““
ὑ_μᾶς τοῦτο οὐ πείθω”
I cannot persuade you of this”
P. A. 37a; ““
ἀναμνήσω ὑ_μᾶς καὶ τοὺς κινδύ_νους”
I will remind you of the dangers also”
X. A. 3.2.11; ““
οὐδεὶς ἐδίδαξέ με ταύτην τὴν τέχνην”
nobody taught me this art”
X. O. 19.16.
[*] 1629. Both person and thing are equally governed by the verb. The accusative of the person is the external object; the accusative of the thing is sometimes a cognate accusative (internal accusative).
[*] 1630. Some of these verbs also take the genitive or dative, or employ prepositions. Thus
ἐρωτᾶν τινα περί τινος, αἰτεῖν (
αἰτεῖσθαί)
τι παρά τινος, ἀποστερεῖν or
ἀφαιρεῖσθαί τινά τινος (
τινός τι) (
1394), or
τινί τι (
1483);
ἀναμιμνῄσκειν τινά τινος (
1356);
παιδεύειν τινά τινι or
τινὰ εἰς (or
πρός) with the accusative.
[*] 1631. The poets employ this construction with verbs of cleansing (a form of
depriving): ““
χρόα νίζετο ἅλμην”
he was washing the brine from his skin”
ζ 224,
αἷμα κάθηρον Σαρπηδόνα cleanse the blood from Sarpedon II 667. And with other verbs (in tragedy), e.g.
τι_μωρεῖσθαι avenge on,
μετελθεῖν seek to avenge on,
μετιέναι execute judgment on,
ἐπισκήπτειν charge.
[*] 1632.
Passive (
1747): ““
ὑπὸ βασιλέως πεπρα_γμένος τοὺς φόρους”
having had the tribute demanded of him by the king”
T. 8.5, ““
ὅσοι ἵππους ἀπεστέρηνται”
all who have been deprived of their horses”
X. C. 6.1.12, ““
οὐκ ἐπείθοντο τὰ ἐσαγγελθέντα”
they would not credit the news”
Hdt. 8.81, ““
μουσικὴν παιδευθείς”
having been instructed in music”
P. Menex. 236a (here
μουσικῇ is possible), ““
οὐδὲν ἄλλο διδάσκεται ἄνθρωπος ἢ ἐπιστήμην”
man is taught nothing else except knowledge”
P. Men. 87c.
[*] 1633. The accusative of extent (
1580) is freely used in the same sentence with other accusatives, as ““
ὑπερενεγκόντες τὸν Λευκαδίων ἰσθμὸν τὰ_ς ναῦς”
having hauled the ships across the isthmus of Leucas”
T. 3.81.
On the accusative of the whole and part, see
985; on the accusative subject of the infinitive, see
1972 ff.; on the accusative absolute, see
2076. See also under
Anacoluthon.
TWO VERBS WITH A COMMON OBJECT
[*] 1634. The case of an object common to two verbs is generally that demanded by the nearer: ““
οὐ δεῖ τοῖς παιδοτρίβαις ἐγκαλεῖν οὐδ᾽ ἐκβάλλειν ἐκ τῶν πόλεων”
we must not accuse the trainer or banish him from the cities”
P. G. 460d.
a. The farther verb may contain the main idea: ““
ἐπιτι_μᾷ καὶ ἀποδοκιμάζει τισί”
he censures some and rejects them at the scrutiny”
L. 6.33.
[*] 1635. The construction is usually ruled by the participle, not by the finite verb, when they have a common object but different constructions, and especially when the object stands nearer the participle: ““
τούτῳ δοὺς ἡγεμόνας πορεύεσθαι ἐκέλευσεν ἡσύχως”
having given him guides he ordered him to proceed quietly”
X. C. 5.3.53; and when the common object stands between, as ““
προσπεσόντες τοῖς πρώτοις τρέπουσι”
falling upon the foremost they put them to flight”
T. 7.53.
a. Sometimes the finite verb regulates the construction, as ““
καλέσα_ς παρεκελεύετο τοῖς Ἕλλησι”
he summoned the Greeks and exhorted them”
X. A. 1.8.11.
Part I: Letters, Sounds, Syllables, Accent
Part IV: Syntax
