κατόρθωμα
εἰς πέλαγος σπέρµα βαλεῖν καὶ γράµµατα γράψαι ἀµφότερος µόχθος τε κενὸς καὶ πρᾶξις ἄκαρπος → throwing seeds and writing letters at sea are both a vain and fruitless endeavor
English (LSJ)
ατος, τό,
A success, opp. εὐτύχημα, Arist.MM1199a13, cf. Plb.1.19.12, Str.15.1.54, D.S.13.22, Plu.Mar.10; of literary style, Longin.33.1, 36.2: pl., opp. ἀποτεύγματα, Phld.Vit.p.35 J.; v.l. for διορθ-, Act.Ap.24.2 (pl.). 2 that which is done rightly, virtuous action, in pl., opp. ἁμαρτήματα, Chrysipp.Stoic.2.295, al., cf. IG5(2).268.15 (Mantinea, i B.C.), etc.; τῶν καθηκόντων τὰ τέλεια, = τὰ κ., Stoic.3.134. 3 perfection, τέλος καὶ πέρας καὶ κ. Herm.in Phdr.p.173 A., cf. S.E.M.9.16. 4 Gramm., correct use, opp. βαρβαρισμός, Ph.1.124.
German (Pape)
[Seite 1405] τό, das Gerad-, Rechtgemachte, Wohlgelungene, das glücklich Vollbrachte; Pol. 1, 19, 12 u. öfter; D. Hal. 5, 44; D. Sic. 5, 20; Plut. Alc. 9 u. a. Sp. – Bei den Stoikern die vollkommenen Pflichten, recte factum, Cic. de fin. 3, 7 offic. 1, 3; Ggstz ἁμαρτήματα Sezt. Emp. adv. phys. 1, 16.
Greek (Liddell-Scott)
κατόρθωμα: τό, ἐπιτυχία ἀκολουθοῦσα ὀρθὴν κρίσιν, κατ’ ἀντίθεσιν πρὸς τὸ εὐτύχημα, Ἀριστ. π. Μνήμ. 2. 3, 2· ἐν γένει, τὸ καλῶς πραχθέν, ἀνδραγάθημα, Πολύβ. 1. 19, 12, Στράβων, κλ.· ἴδε Λοβέκ. εἰς Φρύνιχ. 251. 2) τὸ ὀρθῶς πραττόμενον, ὡς φιλοσοφικὸς ὅρος, ὀρθὴ πρᾶξις, τὸ καθῆκον, Λατ. recte factum, Κικ. Fin. 3. 7, Off. 1. 3, Σέξτ. Ἐμπ. π. Μ. 9. 16.
English (Strong)
from a compound of κατά and a derivative of ὀρθός (compare διόρθωσις); something made fully upright, i.e. (figuratively) rectification (specially, good public administration): very worthy deed.
