γόνυ the ionic forms γούνατος, -ατι in Trag., but never γουνός, γουνί
I.the knee, Lat. genu, Hom., etc.
2.ἅψασθαι γούνων to clasp the knees as a suppliant, Il.; so ἑλεῖν, λαβεῖν, γούνων id=Il.; τῶν γουνάτων λαβέσθαι Hdt.; περὶ or ἀμφὶ γούνασί τινος χεῖρας βαλεῖν Od.; ἀμφὶ γόνυ τινὸς πίπτειν Eur.; γούνων λίσσεσθαι to supplicate by [clasping] the knees, Hom.; ἄντεσθαι or λίσσεσθαι πρὸς τῶν γονάτων Eur.
3.of a sitting posture, γόνυ κάμψειν bend the knee so as to sit down, Il.:— ἐπὶ γούνασι on one's knees, of a child, id=Il.; πέπλον θεῖναι Ἀθηναίης ἐπὶ γούνασιν to lay it on her lap (as an offering), id=Il.; metaph., θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται, i. e. rests on their will and pleasure, Hom.
4.the knees are in Hom. the seat of strength; hence, γούνατά τινος λύειν to weaken, lame, kill him, Il.: also, metaph., ἐς γόνυ βάλλειν to bring down upon the knee, i. e. to humble, conquer, Hdt.
II.the knee or joint of grasses, such as the cane, Lat. geniculum, Hdt., Xen.
