PREPOSITIONS
Note. - To be distinguished: τὴν ἡμέραν (140), ἡμέρας (152), τῆς ἡμέρας (152), τῇ ἡμέρᾳ and ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ.
161. The dative is used with verbs one of whose component parts is a preposition that requires the dative:
| Preposition | Examples |
|---|---|
| σύν | σύνειμι am together with, συμμαχέω fight in alliance with |
| 158 | συμπονέω toil together with, συμπράττω work with, concur, help |
| ἐν | ἔνειμι am in, at, ἐμμένω abide by |
| 160 | ἐμπίπτω fall into, ἐντυγχάνω come upon, find |
| ἐπί | ἐπιβουλεύω plot against, ἐπιδίδωμι give in addition |
| 158 | ἐπιτίθεμαι attack, ἐπιτρέπω give up, commit; |
less frequently after verbs compounded with παρά, ὑπό: πάρειμι, ὑπόκειμαι.
V. PREPOSITIONS
162. 1. All prepositions were originally adverbs. Homer, Herodotus and the Attic poets still regard them as such, whilst in standard prose only πρός (besides, in addition, in: πρὸς δὲ and πρὸς δὲ καί) is used adverbially.
- As adverbial locative particles, the prepositions are frequently joined to the oblique cases in order to bring out more clearly, and define more plainly, their local meaning. Broadly speaking, prepositions
| Construction | Answer the question |
|---|---|
| with the genitive | whence? whereof? |
| with the dative | where? wherewith? |
| with the accusative | whither? how far? |
- In many cases, however, the Greeks took a different view of things from ours and, in consequence, expressed the same thought by means of different prepositions. Compare: στρατεύμα συνέλεξεν ἀπὸ τούτων τῶν χρημάτων with this money - δεῖν ἐκ δένδρων to tie up to trees - ἐξ ἀριστερᾶς on the left.
- USES AND MEANINGS OF THE PREPOSITIONS.
| Genitive | Dative | Accusative | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| with one case | ἀντί | instead of, for | ||
| ἀπό | from, away (down) from | |||
| ἐκ, ἐξ | out of, from, in consequence of | |||
| πρό | before, in behalf of | |||
| ἐν | in, at, during | |||
| σύν | together with | |||
| εἰς | to, into, against | |||
| ἀνά | up along, over, through |
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SYNTAX.
USES AND MEANINGS OF THE PREPOSITIONS. - Concluded.
| Genitive | Dative | Accusative | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| with two cases | διά | through | owing to, thanks to, on account of | |
| κατά | down from; down upon, against | down along, over, according to | ||
| μετά | with | after, post | ||
| ὑπέρ | above, super, for, pro | beyond | ||
| with three cases | ἀμφί | about, de | about, on account of | about |
| ἐπί | upon | upon, because of, for the purpose of | up to, against, towards, in quest of | |
| παρά | from beside, on the part of | by the side, near, at | alongside of, by and beyond, against, during | |
| περί | on, concerning, de | about, around | about | |
| πρός | by, from, on the part of | at, near, besides | towards, against | |
| ὑπό | from beneath, under, by (agent?), through | under, sub w. abl. | to a place and under, sub w. acc. |
- The prepositional adverbs take the genitive:
| Greek | English | Latin |
|---|---|---|
| ἄνευ | without | sine |
| ἐκτός | outside | extra |
| ἐντός | inside | intra |
| μεταξύ | between | inter |
| πλήν | except | praeter |
| πέραν | on the other side | trans |
| ἔμπροσθεν | in front of, before | |
| ὄπισθεν | behind, after | |
| ἑκατέρωθεν, ἀμφοτέρωθεν, ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν | from both sides, etc. | |
| ἄχρι and μέχρι | as far as, until | |
| ἔξω | out of, without | |
| εἴσω | into, within | |
| ἐγγύς and πλησίον | near | prope |
| πόρρω and πρόσω | far from | |
| πέρα | beyond | ultra |
| ἕνεκα (ἕνεκεν) | for the sake of | causa |
| ἐναντίον | opposite, in presence of | coram |
USES AND MEANINGS OF THE PREPOSITIONS. Concluded.
163. USES AND MEANINGS OF THE PREPOSITIONS.
- Ἀμφί with the Accusative (Gen., Dat.) = περί with the acc., about.
a) of Place: οἱ ἀμφὶ Ἀριαῖον, 124 note. b) of Time: ἀμφὶ μέσας νύκτας about midnight. c) Figuratively: ἀμφὶ τὰ πεντήκοντα ἔτη about, circiter.
- Ἀνά with the Accusative: up, up along, over (opp. to κατά).
a) of Place: ἀνὰ τὸν ποταμόν, ῥοῦν up the river. ἀνὰ τὸ πεδίον, τὰ ὄρη over, through, upon.
b) of Time: ἀνὰ πᾶσαν τὴν ἡμέραν all day long.
c) Figuratively: ἀνὰ κράτος to the extent of one's power, ἀνὰ λόγον in due proportion.
d) Distributively: ἀνὰ πέντε five each, ἀνὰ πᾶσαν ἡμέραν every day.
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PREPOSITIONS.
- Ἀντί with the Genitive: instead of, for, in return for.
αἱρεῖσθαι τὸ χεῖρον ἀντὶ τοῦ βελτίονος. τιμωρώμεθα τοὺς ἄνδρας ἀνθ' ὧν ὑβρίσθημεν.
- Ἀπό with the Genitive: from, away from, off from.
a) of Place: ἀφ' ἵππου from the horse, on horseback, ἀπὸ Σάρδεων. b) of Time: ἀπὸ τούτου τοῦ χρόνου from (ever since) this time. c) Figuratively: καλεῖσθαι ἀπό τινος to be named after one. means: στράτευμα συλλέγειν ἀπὸ τῶν χρημάτων with. cause: ἀπὸ τούτου τοῦ τολμήματος for, in consequence of.
- Διά with the Genitive: through (the midst of).
a) of Place: per, διὰ μέσης τῆς πόλεως through the center of the city. inter, διὰ χειρῶν ἔχειν in hand, to be working at. b) of Interval: διὰ πέντε σταδίων at a distance of. διὰ πολλοῦ (ὀλίγου) longo interiecto tempore. c) of Medium: per, δι' ἑρμηνέως through (the medium of) an interpreter.
- Διά with the Accusative: on account of, owing to, by the help of.
mostly of Cause and Agency: διὰ ταῦτα on this account, for this reason, διὰ προδοσίαν, διὰ ἡμᾶς owing to us (whether merit or demerit).
- Εἰς (ἐς) with the Accusative: into, against = in c. acc.
a) of Place: εἰς τὴν πόλιν into the city, εἰς πολεμίους ἰέναι against. b) of Time, limit: εἰς τὴν ἑσπέραν "into eventide" = until (on, at, for, toward) the evening. or extension: εἰς τὸ λοιπὸν for (in) the future. c) Figuratively, purpose: διδόναι, χρῆσθαι εἰς τι for. w. numerals: εἰς (τοὺς) ἑκατόν about (to the number of) a hundred.
- Ἐκ, ἐξ with the Genitive: out of, from within, ex (opp. to εἰς).
a) of Place: ἐκ τῆς πόλεως φεύγειν, ἐκ τῆς γῆς φύεσθαι. b) of Time: ἐκ παίδων from childhood, ἐκ παλαιοῦ from ancient times. ἐκ τούτου from (after) that time, thereupon, ἐξ οὗ ex quo, since. c) Figuratively, congruity: ἐκ τῶν παρόντων as the state of things would require. consequence: ἐκ τούτων in consequence of this. manner: ἐκ παντὸς τρόπου in every possible manner.
- Ἐν with the Dative: in, within, at, on, in c. abl.
a) of Place: ἐν Ἀθήναις, ἐν τοῖς Ἕλλησιν among. πεφευγέναι ἐν τοῖς ὀχυροῖς. ἄτιμος ἐν τοῖς στρατιώταις, ἐν τῷ Εὐξείνῳ Πόντῳ, on (by) the shore of. b) of Time: ἐν νυκτί, ἐν ταῖς σπονδαῖς during, 160, 2. c) Figuratively: ἐν φόβῳ εἶναι, ἐλπίδας ἔχειν ἔν τινι.
- Ἐπί with the Genitive: upon.
a) of Place, where?: ἐφ' ἅρματος ὀχεῖσθαι, - ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους on top of. whither?: ἐπ' Ἰωνίας, ἐπ' οἴκου ἀπιέναι in the direction of, towards.
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SYNTAX.
b) of Time: ἐπὶ Κροίσου βασιλεύοντος during (in) the reign. ἐπ' ἐμοῦ me vivente, οἱ ἐφ' ἡμῶν our contemporaries.
c) Figuratively: ἐφ' ἑαυτοῦ by himself, alone, ἐπὶ καιροῦ as circumstances suggested.
d) Distributively: ἐπὶ τεττάρων πορεύεσθαι four men deep.
- Ἐπί with the Dative: upon.
a) of Place, where?: ἐπὶ ναυσίν, πόλις ἐπὶ τῇ θαλάττῃ οἰκουμένη situated by the seaside. b) of Time, "immediately after": ἐπὶ τῷ τρίτῳ σημείῳ, ἐπὶ τούτοις. c) Figuratively, charge: οἱ ἐπὶ τῷ στρατεύματι, οἱ ἐπὶ τῇ πόλει. dependency: ἐφ' ὑμῖν ἐστι penes vos, ἐπὶ βασιλεῖ γίγνεσθαι to fall into the hands of. cause (with verbs denoting emotion 159, 2): χαίρειν ἐπ' αἰσχραῖς ἡδοναῖς. condition: ἐπὶ τούτοις on such terms, ἐφ' ᾧ τε on condition that, 180, 2. d. object: ἐπὶ θανάτῳ ἄγειν, ἐπὶ βλάβῃ, ἐπὶ τῷ κερδαίνειν with a view to. in honor of: ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ, ἐπὶ Λεωνίδᾳ.
- Ἐπί with the Accusative: towards, against.
a) of Place: ἐφ' ἵππον ἀναβαίνειν, ὁδὸς ἐπὶ Σοῦσα φέρουσα, ἰέναι, πορεύεσθαι ἐπί τινα, in both a friendly and a hostile sense. b) of Time: ἐπὶ τρεῖς ἡμέρας, ἐπὶ πολὺν χρόνον for the space of. c) Figuratively, object (in quest of): ἐπὶ λείαν (praedatum) ἐξιέναι, ἐφ' ὕδωρ πέμπειν to fetch.
- Κατά with the Genitive: down from, down upon = against.
a) of Place: κατ' οὐρανοῦ, κατὰ τῶν ὀρῶν, τειχῶν ῥίπτεσθαι - οἰκεῖν κατὰ γῆς beneath (where?), δῦναι κατὰ γῆς beneath (whither?). b) Figuratively: down upon = against: λέγειν κατά τινος, cf. 153.
- Κατά with the Accusative: down along, over (extension), according.
a) of Place: κατὰ τὸν ποταμόν down the river, κατ' ἀγρούς ruri, κατὰ γῆν καὶ κατὰ θάλατταν. τοὺς καθ' αὑτούς opposite. b) of Time: κατ' ἐκεῖνον τὸν χρόνον in (at, during) that time. c) Figuratively, reference: τὰ κατὰ τὸν πόλεμον. congruity: κατὰ δύναμιν to the extent of one's power; κατὰ τοὺς νόμους according. manner: κατὰ τάχος - καθ' ἡσυχίαν at leisure. κατὰ μικρόν little by little, into small pieces. with numbers: ἀπέθανον κατὰ ἑξακισχιλίους ἄνδρας about. d) Distributively, by: καθ' ἕνα one at a time, κατ' ἄνδρα viritim, καθ' ἡμέραν day by day, κατ' ἔτος, κατ' ἐνιαυτόν every year.
- Μετά with the Genitive: (in company) with, amid.
attendance, company, alliance: εἶναι μετά τινος to side with, μάχεσθαι μετά τινος in alliance with, οἱ μετὰ Κύρου C. and his followers. manner, attendant circumstances: μετὰ δακρύων, κινδύνων amid tears, dangers.
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PREPOSITIONS.
- Μετά with the Accusative: after, next to, post, secundum.
a) of Time: μετὰ τὴν μάχην, μετὰ ταῦτα, μεθ' ἡμέραν at daybreak. b) of Rank, Succession: θειότατον μετὰ θεοὺς ἡ ψυχή.
- Παρά with the Genitive: from (beside).
of Place: ἥκειν παρὰ βασιλέως, αἰτεῖν, μανθάνειν παρὰ φίλων.
- Παρά with the Dative: by (the side of), with.
of Place, esp. with names of persons: παρὰ Κλεάρχῳ εἶναι, παρὰ τοῖς Μήδοις καὶ ἐν τοῖς Πέρσαις. - παρὰ τῇ πόλει ὁρμίζεσθαι, παρὰ τῷ βωμῷ θύειν.
- Παρά with the Accusative: to or towards, alongside.
a) of Place: πέμπειν πρέσβεις παρὰ Φίλιππον. παρὰ τὴν θάλατταν πορεύεσθαι, οἰκεῖν alongside, on the shore of. b) of Time: παρ' ὅλον τὸν βίον per totam vitam. c) Figuratively: going by and beyond: παρὰ τοὺς νόμους, ὅρκους (opp. κατά) against. difference, by: παρὰ πολύ by far, παρὰ τοσοῦτον, παρ' ὀλίγον. compared with: παρὰ τοὺς ἄλλους εὔτακτος. in proportion to: παρὰ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ῥώμην on account of.
- Περί with the Genitive: about, on, concerning, de.
λέγειν περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης, ἐρίζειν, φοβεῖσθαι περὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς. περὶ πολλοῦ, οὐδενός, παντός ποιεῖσθαι: 151.
- Περί with the Dative: about (rare in prose).
a) of Place: στρεπτοὺς περὶ τοῖς τραχήλοις ἔχειν. b) Figuratively: δεδιέναι περὶ πάσῃ τῇ πόλει for.
- Περί with the Accusative: about, around, near.
a) of Place: οἱ περὶ Κῦρον, περὶ τὰ ὄρμα, περὶ τὴν πόλιν. b) of Time: περὶ μέσας νύκτας, περὶ πληθοῦσαν ἀγοράν. c) Figuratively: in respect to, against: ἁμαρτάνουσι περὶ ἡμᾶς.
- Πρό with the Genitive: before, ante, and for, in behalf of, pro.
a) of Place: πρὸ τῶν πυλῶν, τὰ πρὸ ποδῶν. b) of Time: πρὸ τῆς μάχης, πρὸ ἡμέρας, οἱ πρὸ ἡμῶν. c) Figuratively, preference: πρὸ πολλῶν αἱρεῖσθαι, τιμᾶσθαι. in defence of: πρὸ τῆς πατρίδος μάχεσθαι for (see ὑπέρ).
- Πρός with the Genitive: from, on the part of.
a) of Place: ἔπαινον πρὸς ὑμῶν ἔχω, τὸ πρὸς ἑσπέρας τεῖχος, ἑστάναι πρὸς τοῦ ποταμοῦ so as to face the river. b) Figuratively: πρός τινος εἶναι to side with (stare ab aliquo), see 15. in swearing: ὀμνύναι πρὸς θεῶν by the gods, see 133.
- Πρός with the Dative: at, by, near.
a) of Place: πρὸς Βαβυλῶνι, πρὸς ταῖς πηγαῖς, τῇ ἀγορᾷ at Babylon, etc. b) Figuratively: besides, in addition to (cf. 162, 1): πρὸς τῷ ὑπάρχοντα πόνοις, πρὸς τούτοις besides this.
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SYNTAX.
- Πρός with the Accusative: towards, against.
a) of Place: πρὸς μεσημβρίαν, ἰέναι πρὸς βασιλέα as friend or as enemy. σπονδὰς ποιεῖσθαι πρός τινα with. b) of Time: πρὸς ἑσπέραν towards evening. c) Figuratively: in regard to: ἄθυμος πρὸς τὴν ἀνάβασιν, πρὸς ταῦτα εἶπε by way of answer. compared with: οὐδὲν τὰ χρήματα πρὸς τὴν σοφίαν nihil ad. end, purpose: παιδεύεσθαι πρὸς ἀρετήν, λέγειν πρὸς χάριν.
- Σύν, ξύν with the Dative: with, cum.
union, accompaniment; attendant circumstances: οἱ σὺν Φαλίνῳ the followers of Ph., σὺν τοῖς ὅπλοις. σὺν κραυγῇ - σὺν τῷ δικαίῳ. aid: σὺν τοῖς θεοῖς with the help, by the blessing of.
- Ὑπέρ with the Genitive: over, super; in behalf of, pro.
a) of Place: ὑπὲρ τῆς γῆς, γήλοφος ὑπὲρ τῆς κώμης ἦν. b) Figuratively, in behalf of: στρατηγεῖν ὑπὲρ Φιλίππου. in defence of: μάχεσθαι ὑπὲρ τῆς πατρίδος. cause: ὀργίζεσθαι ὑπὲρ τῶν γεγενημένων. (In the sense of περί with the Genitive only since Demosthenes.)
- Ὑπέρ with the Accusative: beyond, supra, ultra.
a) of Place: ὑπὲρ τὸν Ἑλλήσποντον οἰκεῖν. b) of Time: ὑπὲρ τὰ πεντήκοντα ἔτη γεγονώς amplius annos 50 natus. c) Figuratively: ὑπὲρ δύναμιν supra vires.
- Ὑπό with the Genitive: under, beneath.
a) of Place, from beneath: ὑπὸ γῆς ἦλθεν εἰς φῶς. under: ὑπὸ γῆς οἰκεῖν, οὔτ' ἐπὶ γῆς οὔθ' ὑπὸ γῆς.
b) Figuratively ("under the influence of"), in consequence, on account of: = ab with the passive: νικᾶσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν Ἑλλήνων, ἀποθνῄσκειν ὑπὸ φονέως at the hand of, κακὰ πάσχειν ὑφ' ὧν οὐκ ἔδει. cause: ὑπὸ λύπης through grief, ὑπὸ λιμοῦ ἀπόλλυσθαι to die of hunger. accompaniment: ὑπὸ σάλπιγγος to the sound of trumpet.
- Ὑπό with the Dative: under, sub with the Abl.
a) of Place: ὑπὸ τῷ οὐρανῷ, ὑπὸ τῇ ἀκροπόλει at the base of. b) Figuratively: ὑπὸ τυράννοις εἶναι, γίγνεσθαι in the power of. ὑφ' ἑαυτῷ ποιεῖσθαι to bring under one's control.
- Ὑπό with the Accusative: to a place and under, sub with the Acc.
a) of Place: ὑπὸ τὰ δένδρα ἀπῆλθον, ὑπὸ τὸν λόφον sub collem. b) of Time: ὑπὸ νύκτα sub noctem, ὑπὸ τοὺς αὐτοὺς χρόνους.
- Ὡς with the Accusative: to, towards (with personal objects).
πρέσβεις ὡς βασιλέα πέπομφεν.