ἀστεῖος
οὐ δικαίως θάνατον ἔχθουσιν βροτοί, ὅσπερ μέγιστον ῥῦμα τῶν πολλῶν κακῶν → unjustly men hate death, which is the greatest defence against their many ills | men are not right in hating death, which is the greatest succour from our many ills
English (LSJ)
α, ον, also ος, ον Diph.73: (ἄστυ):—
A of the town (but in the literal sense ἀστικός is used). II town-bred, polite, Pl.Phd. 116d; opp. ἄγροικος, Plu.Mar.3; γένοιτ' ἀστεῖος οἰκῶν ἐν πόλει Alc. Com.26; charming, Isoc.2.34. 2 of thoughts and words, refined, elegant, witty, διάλεκτον ἀστείαν ὑποθηλυτέραν, opp. ἀνελεύθερον ὑπαγροικοτέραν, Ar.Fr.685; ἀστεῖόν τι λέξαι Id.Ra.901; ἀστεῖον λέγεις (where there is a play on the double sense, witty and popular) Id.Nu.204; ἀ. καὶ δημωφελεῖς οἱ λόγοι Pl.Phdr.227d; ἀστεῖον εἰπεῖν Com.Anon.248 Mein., cf. Axiop.1.14; ἀστειοτάτας ἐπινοίας Ar.Eq. 539; of persons, οἱ ἀ. the wits, Pl.R.452d; τὰ ἀ. witty sayings, witticisms, Arist.Rh.1411b21, al. Adv. -ως J.AJ12.4.4, Plu.2.123f, Luc.Nigr.13. 3 as a general word of praise, of things and persons, pretty, charming, βοσκήματε Ar.Ach.811; ἑορτή Pl.Grg. 447a; ἀ. καὶ εὐήθης Id.R.349b, cf. Phdr.242e, Hp.Ep.13; ἐστὶ γοῦν ἁπλῆ τις;—ἀστεία μὲν οὖν Anaxil.21; ἀστεῖόν [ἐστι] ὅτι ἐρυθριᾷς it is charming to see you blush, Pl.Ly.204c; ἀστεῖον πάνυ εἰ . . Men. Sam.149. b ironically, ἀ. κέρδος a pretty piece of luck, Ar.Nu. 1064; ἀστεῖος εἶ Diph.73. 4 of outward appearance, pretty, graceful, LXX Ex.2.2, al.; οἱ μικροὶ ἀ. καὶ σύμμετροι, καλοὶ δ' οὔ Arist. EN1123b7; handsome, LXX Jd.3.17 (of Eglon): in Comedy, of dainty dishes, κραμβίδιον, κρεΐσκον, Antiph.6, Alex.189. 5 good of its kind, αἷμα Hp.Alim.44; ἑλλέβορος Str.9.3.3; οἶνος Plu.2.620d; of persons, good, Ph.1.97, Plu.Them.5; ἀστεῖα good qualities, opp. φαῦλα, Demetr.Eloc.114. Adv. -είως honourably, πράττων LXX 2 Ma. 12.43, cf. Ph.1.244.
