χάος

English (LSJ)

[ᾰ], εος, Att. ους, τό,

   A chaos, the first state of the universe, πρώτιστα χ. γένετ', αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα Γαῖ' εὐρύστερνος κτλ. Hes.Th.116, cf. Ibyc.28, Epich.170.3, Acus.Fr.5J., Arist.Metaph.1091b6, Ar.Av. 693 (anap.); χάους . . παῖς καλεῦμαι Simm.Alae7; represented sts. as infinite space, S.E.P.3.121, cf. Plot.6.8.11; sts. as unformed matter, Luc.Am.32 (esp., acc. to the Stoics, water, Zeno Stoic.1.29 (with deriv. fr. χέω)).    2 space, the expanse of air, ἄτρυτον χ. B.5.27, cf. Ar.Nu.424 (anap.), 627, Av.1218.    b τὸ χ. τοῦ ἐφ' ἑκάτερα ἀπείρου αἰῶνος, of infinite time, M.Ant.4.3.    3 the nether abyss, infinite darkness, joined with Ἔρεβος, Pl.Ax.371e; with ὄρφνη, Q.S. 2.614; represented as in the interior of the globe, Plu.2.953a; χάους κύνα, of Cerberus, APl.4.91.    b generally, darkness, A.R.4.1697.    4 any vast gulf or chasm, LXX Mi.1.6, Za.14.4; of a pit, Opp.C.4.92; of the gaping jaws of the crocodile, ib.3.414, cf. 4.161, H.5.52.    5 Pythag. name for one, Theol.Ar.6.

German (Pape)

[Seite 1335] τό (χάω, χαίνω), der leere, unermeßliche Raum; persönlich gefaßt von Hes. Th. 116; die rohe, verworrene Masse, aus der das Weltall geschaffen wurde, Plat. Conv. 178 b; Ar. öfter. – Später auch die unermeßliche Zeit, M. Ant. 4, 3. – Dah. a) jeder leere, weite Raum, jede Kluft, wie χάσμα, εὐρύ Opp. Cyn. 3, 414. – b) der Luftraum, die Atmosphäre, Stesichor. – c) die Finsterniß, Qu. Sm. 2, 614, neben ὄρφνη.