Herbert Weir Smyth, A Greek Grammar for Colleges

---

---

---

[*] 1431. Comparison (1402).—Adjectives of the comparative degree or implying comparison take the genitive. The genitive denotes the standard or point of departure from which the comparison is made, and often expresses a condensed comparison when actions are compared. Thus, ““ἤττων ἀμαθὴς σοφοῦ, δειλὸς ἀνδρείου” an ignorant man is inferior to a wise man, a coward to a brave man” P. Phae. 239a, ““κρεῖττόν ἐστι λόγου τὸ κάλλος τῆς γυναικός” the beauty of the woman is too great for description” X. M. 3.11.1, ““Ἐπύαξα προτέρα_ Κύ_ρου πέντε ἡμέραις ἀφί_κετο” Epyaxa arrived five days before Cyrus” X. A. 1.2.25, ““καταδεεστέρα_ν τὴν δόξαν τῆς ἐλπίδος ἔλαβεν” the reputation he acquired fell short of his expectation” I. 2.7. So with δεύτερος, ὑστεραῖος, περιττός. Comparatives with ἤ, 1069.