μέλα_ς, μέλαινα, μέλαν ,
dat. μείλανι, comp. μελάντερος: dark, black, in the general and
extensive meaning of these words, opp. λευκός, Il. 3.103; said of
dust, steel, blood, wine, water, grapes, ships, clouds, evening,
night, death.—As subst., μέλαν
δρυός, i. e. the ‘heart-wood,’ which is
always the darkest, Od.
14.12.