φθόγγος
τὸ γὰρ πράττειν τοῦ λέγειν καὶ χειροτονεῖν ὕστερον ὂν τῇ τάξει, πρότερον τῇ δυνάμει καὶ κρεῖττόν ἐστιν (Demosthenes 3.15) → for action, even though posterior in the order of events to speaking and voting, is prior in importance and superior
English (LSJ)
ὁ (both Poet. and Prose),
A any clear, distinct sound, esp. voice of men, Il.5.234, etc.; of the Sirens, Od.12.41,159; φθόγγῳ ἐπερχόμεναι 18.199; φ. ἀραῖον οἴκοις A.Ag.237 (lyr.); γόων οὐκ ἀσήμονες φ. S.OC1669; φ. οἰκείου κακοῦ voice, telling of... Id.Ant.1187; τὸν Αἵμονος φ. ib.1218, cf. 1214; of birds, ἀλεκτρυόνων φ. Thgn.864; ἀγνῶτα . . φ. ὀρνίθων S.Ant.1001, cf. 424; φθόγγος οὔτ' ὀρνίθων οὔτε θαλάσσης E.IA9 (anap.); κυνῶν καὶ προβάτων καὶ ὀρνέων Pl.R.397a. 2 speech, Ἑλλάδος φθόγγον χέουσαν A.Th.73; φ. ἔμμετρος, opp. πεζά, poetical speech, Phld.D.3.13; utterance, saying, Trag.Adesp.417. II generally, sound, ἀνέμων Simon.37.11; δαίμονος πεδαρσίου . . πτερωτὸς φ. Ar.Av.1198 ( = Trag.Adesp.47); φωνῆς μὲν οὔ, φθόγγου δὲ μετέχοντά τινος, of semi-vowels, Pl.Phlb. 18c, cf. Arist.Aud.801b2, 804b9; ἄνευ φθόγγου καὶ ἠχῆς Pl.Ti.37b, cf. Epicur.Ep.1p.32U.; εἰς τοὺς φ. καὶ τὰς συλλαβάς Pl.Cra.389d, cf. Plu.Alex.27, Gal.15.6. 2 of musical sounds, λωτὸς φθόγγον κελάδει E.El.716 (lyr.); λύρας Pl.Lg.812d, etc., cf. φθόγγους ἀλύρους θρηνοῦμεν Alex. 162.6 (anap.). b pl., notes on a musical instrument; strings of lyre, D.Chr.10.19; stops of flute, Philostr.VA5.21; cf. Corn.ND14.
