σμῆνος
ἢ λέγε τι σιγῆς κρεῖττον ἢ σιγὴν ἔχε → either say something better than silence or keep silence (Menander)
English (LSJ)
Dor. σμᾶνος Theoc.1.107, εος, τό,
A beehive, σμήνεσσι κατηρεφέεσσι Hes. Th.594, cf. IG12.326.15, Pl.R.552c, Arist.HA624a6 sq. II swarm of bees, σ. ὣς μελισσᾶν A.Pers.128 (lyr.), cf. Pl.Plt. 293d, Arist.HA627b15, al.; of wasps, Ar.V.425; of ἀνθρῆναι, Arist. HA629a7. 2 generally, swarm, crowd, βομβεῖ δὲ νεκρῶν σ. S.Fr. 879; οἷον σοφιστῶν σ. Cratin.2; σ. θεῶν, of the clouds, Ar.Nu.297: metaph., τὸ τῶν ἡδονῶν σ., σ. τι ἀρετῶν, Pl.R.574d, Men.72a; ἀποικιῶν σμήνη Aristid.1.115 J.: heterocl. pl., σμῆνα μελισσάων Orac. ap. Plu. 2.96b. [pl. written ζμήνη, PCair.Zen.151.4 (iii B.C.).]
German (Pape)
[Seite 910] τό, 1) der Bienenstock, Bienenkorb; Hes. Th. 594; Arist. H. A. 9, 40 u. oft. – 2) gew. der Bienenschwarm, μελισσῶν, Aesch. Pers. 126, wie Plat. Polit. 293 d Xen. u. A., – Wespen, Ar. Vesp. 425; – übh. der Schwarm : θεῶν, Nubb. 297; νεκρῶν, Soph. frg. 693; τῶν ἡδονῶν, Plat. Rep. IX, 574 d; ἀρετῶν, Men. 72 a; ἀποικιῶν, Aristid. panath. I p. 185 Ddf.
