μέγας: Difference between revisions

|Definition=<b class="b3">μεγάλη [ᾰ], μέγα [ᾰ]</b>, gen. <b class="b3">μεγάλου, ης, ου</b>, dat. <b class="b3">μεγάλῳ, ῃ, ῳ</b>, acc. <b class="b3">μέγᾰν, μεγάλην, μέγα [ᾰ]</b>; dual <b class="b3">μεγάλω, α, w</b>; pl. <b class="b3">μεγάλοι, μεγάλαι, μεγάλα</b>, etc.: the stem <b class="b3">μεγάλο</b>- is never used in sg. nom. and acc. masc. and neut., and only once in voc. masc., <span class="sense"><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">A</span> ὦ μεγάλε Ζεῦ <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Th.</span> 822</span> (anap.). </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">I</span> <b class="b2">big</b>, of bodily size: freq. of stature, εἶδος. . μ. ἦν ὁράασθαι <span class="bibl">Od.18.4</span>; κεῖτο μ. μεγαλωστί <span class="bibl">Il.16.776</span>; ἠΰς τε μ. τε <span class="bibl">Od.9</span>. <span class="bibl">508</span>; <b class="b3">φῶτα μέγαν καὶ καλόν</b> ib.<span class="bibl">513</span>; καλή τε μεγάλη τε <span class="bibl">15.418</span>; κάρτα μεγάλη καὶ εὐειδής <span class="bibl">Hdt.3.1</span>; <b class="b3">φύσιν τίν' εἶχε φράζε</b>; Answ. μέγας <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">OT</span>742</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">b</span> <b class="b2">full-grown</b>, of age as shown by stature, νῦν δ' ὅτε δὴ μ. εἰμί <span class="bibl">Od.2.314</span>; μήτε μέγαν μήτ' οὖν νεαρῶν τινα <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Ag.</span>358</span> (anap.); later, <b class="b2">elder</b> of two persons of the same name, Wilcken <span class="title">Chr.</span>305 (iii B. C.); Σκιπίων ὁ μ. <span class="bibl">Plb.18.35.9</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">c</span> of animals, <b class="b3">μ. ἵπποι, βοῦς, σῦς</b>, <span class="bibl">Il.2.839</span>, <span class="bibl">18.559</span>, <span class="bibl">Od.19.439</span>; αἰετός <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">I.</span>6(5).50</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">2</span> generally, <b class="b2">vast, high</b>, <b class="b3">οὐρανός, ὄρος, πύργος</b>, <span class="bibl">Il.1.497</span>, <span class="bibl">16.297</span>, <span class="bibl">6.386</span>; <b class="b2">wide</b>, <b class="b3">πέλαγος, λαῖτμα θαλάσσης</b>, <span class="bibl">Od.3.179</span>, <span class="bibl">5.174</span>; <b class="b2">long</b>, <b class="b3">ἠϊών, αἰγιαλός</b>, <span class="bibl">Il.12.31</span>,<span class="bibl">2.210</span>: sts. opp. ὀλίγος, κῦμα οὔτε μέγ' οὔτ' ὀ. <span class="bibl">Od.10.94</span>; but usu. opp. <b class="b3">μικρός</b> or σμικρός, πρὸς ἑαυτὸ ἕκαστον καὶ μ. καὶ σμικρόν Anaxag. 3; τὸ ἄπειρον ἐκ μεγάλου καὶ μικροῦ <span class="bibl">Arist.<span class="title">Metaph.</span>987b26</span>, etc. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">II</span> of quality or degree, <b class="b2">great, mighty</b>, freq. epith. of gods, ὁ μ. Ζεύς <span class="bibl">A. <span class="title">Supp.</span>1052</span> (lyr.), etc.; <b class="b3">μεγάλα θεά</b>, of Demeter and Persephone, <span class="bibl">S. <span class="title">OC</span>683</span> (lyr.); <b class="b3">θεοὶ μεγάλοι</b>, of the Cabiri, <span class="title">IG</span>12(8).71 (Imbros), etc.; <b class="b3">Μήτηρ μ</b>., of Cybele, <span class="title">SIG</span>1014.83 (Erythrae, iii B. C.), 1138.3 (Delos, ii B. C.); Μήτηρ θεῶν μ. <span class="title">OGI</span>540.6 (Pessinus), etc.; Ἴσιδος μ. μητρὸς θεῶν <span class="bibl"><span class="title">PStrassb.</span>81.14</span> (ii B.C.); μ. ἡ Ἄρτεμις Ἐφεσίων <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Act.Ap.</span>19.28</span>; <b class="b3">τίς θεὸς μ. ὡς ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν</b>; <span class="bibl">LXX <span class="title">Ps.</span>76(77).13</span>; ὁ μ. θεός <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ep.Tit.</span>2.13</span>; of men, μ. ἠδὲ κραταιός <span class="bibl">Od.18.382</span>; ὀλίγος καὶ μ. <span class="bibl">Callin.1.17</span>, etc.; <b class="b3">μέγας ηὐξήθη</b> rose <b class="b2">to greatness</b>, <span class="bibl">D.2.5</span>; <b class="b3">ἤρθη μ</b>. ib.8; <b class="b3">βασιλεὺς ὁ μ</b>., i. e. the King of Persia, <span class="bibl">Hdt.1.188</span>, etc. (<b class="b3">θεῶν β. ὁ μ</b>., of Zeus, <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">O.</span> 7.34</span>); βασιλεὺς μ. <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Pers.</span>24</span> (anap.); as a title of special monarchs, Ἀρδιαῖος ὁ μ. <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">R.</span>615c</span>; ὁ μ. Ἀλέξανδρος <span class="bibl">Ath.1.3d</span>; ὁ μ. ἐπικληθεὶς Ἀντίοχος <span class="bibl">Plb.4.2.7</span>, etc.; μ. φίλος <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Med.</span>549</span>; πλούτῳ τε κἀνδρείᾳ μ. <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Tr.</span>674</span>; ἐπὶ μέγα ἦλθεν ἰσχύος <span class="bibl">Th.2.97</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">2</span> <b class="b2">strong</b>, of the elements, etc., <b class="b3">ἄνεμος, λαῖλαψ, Ζέφυρος</b>, <span class="bibl">Od.19.200</span>, <span class="bibl">12.408</span>, <span class="bibl">14.458</span>; of properties, passions, qualities, feelings, etc., of men, <b class="b3">θάρσος, πένθος, ποθή</b>, etc., <span class="bibl">9.381</span>, <span class="bibl">Il.1.254</span>, <span class="bibl">11.471</span>, etc.; ἀρετή <span class="bibl">Od.24.193</span>, <span class="bibl">Pi. <span class="title">O.</span>8.5</span>; θυμός <span class="bibl">Il.9.496</span>, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Or.</span>702</span>; κλέος <span class="bibl">Il.6.446</span>; ἄχος <span class="bibl">9.9</span>; πυρετός <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ev.Luc.</span>4.38</span> (incorrect acc. to Gal.7.275); <b class="b3">ἡ μ. νοῦσος</b> <b class="b2">epilepsy</b>, <span class="bibl">Hp. <span class="title">Epid.</span>6.6.5</span>, cf. Gal.17(2).341. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">3</span> of sounds, <b class="b2">great, loud</b>, <b class="b3">ἀλαλητός, ἰαχή, πάταγος, ὀρυμαγδός</b>, <span class="bibl">Il.12.138</span>, <span class="bibl">15.384</span>, <span class="bibl">21.9</span>, <span class="bibl">256</span>; <b class="b3">θόρυβοι, κωκυτός</b>, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Aj.</span>142</span> (anap.), <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Med.</span>1176</span>; οὐκ ἔστι ὅκως τι νεῖκος ἔσται ἢ μέγα ἢ σμικρόν <span class="bibl">Hdt.3.62</span>; μὴ φώνει μέγα <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Ph.</span>574</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">4</span> generally, <b class="b2">great, mighty</b>, ὅρκος <span class="bibl">Il.19.113</span>; <b class="b3">ὄλβος, τιμά</b>, <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">O.</span>1.56</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">P.</span>4.148</span>; <b class="b3">μ. λόγος, μῦθος</b>, a <b class="b2">great</b> story, rumour, <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Pr.</span>732</span>, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Aj.</span>226</span> (lyr.); <b class="b3">ἐρώτημα</b> a <b class="b2">big</b>, i. e. <b class="b2">difficult</b>, question, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Euthd.</span>275d</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Hp.Ma.</span> 287b</span>; <b class="b2">weighty, important</b>, τόδε μεῖζον <span class="bibl">Od.16.291</span>; <b class="b3">μέγα ποιέεσθαί τι</b> to esteem <b class="b2">of great importance</b>, <span class="bibl">Hdt.3.42</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">9.111</span>; μέγα γενέσθαι εἴς τι <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">HG</span>7.5.6</span>; μ. ὑπάρχειν πρός τι <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Mem.</span>2.3.4</span>; μέγα διαφέρειν εἴς τι <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Lg.</span>78o</span>c; <b class="b3">οὐκ ἂν εἴη παρὰ μέγα τὸ δικολογεῖν</b> not of <b class="b2">great importance</b>, Phld.<span class="title">Rh.</span>2.85 S.; <b class="b3">τὸ δὲ μέγιστον</b> and what is <b class="b2">most important</b>, <span class="bibl">Th.4.70</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">1.142</span>; <b class="b3">οἱ μέγιστοι καιροί</b> the <b class="b2">most pressing</b> emergencies, <span class="bibl">D.20.44</span>; <b class="b3">μ. ὠνησάμενοι χρημάτων</b> for <b class="b2">large</b> sums, <span class="bibl">Plb. 4.50.3</span>, etc. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">5</span> with a bad sense, <b class="b2">over-great</b>, <b class="b3">μέγα εἰπεῖν</b> to speak <b class="b2">big</b>, and so provoke divine wrath, <span class="bibl">Od.22.288</span>; λίην μέγα εἶπες <span class="bibl">3.227</span>, <span class="bibl">16.243</span>; μέγα ἔργον <span class="bibl">3.261</span>, <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">N.</span>10.64</span>; ἔργων μ. <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Ag.</span>1546</span> (anap.); ὠμὸν τὸ βούλευμα καὶ μ. <span class="bibl">Th.3.36</span>; <b class="b3">ἔπος μ., μ. λόγοι</b>, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Aj.</span> 423</span> (lyr.), <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ant.</span>1350</span> (anap.); <b class="b3">μ. γλῶσσα</b> ib.<span class="bibl">127</span> (anap.); μηδὲν μέγ' εἴπῃς <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Aj.</span>386</span>; μὴ μέγα λέγε <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Phd.</span>95b</span>; μὴ μεγάλα λίαν λέγε <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ra.</span>835</span>; μέγα φρονεῖν <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">OT</span>1078</span>, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Hipp.</span>6</span>; μεγάλα φρονεῖν <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ach.</span>988</span>; <b class="b3">μεγάλα, μεῖζον ἢ δικαίως πνεῖν</b>, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Andr.</span>189</span>, <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Ag.</span>376</span> (lyr.); μέγα τι παθεῖν <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>5.8.17</span>; μὴ μέγα λέγων μεῖζον πάθῃς <span class="bibl">E. <span class="title">HF</span>1244</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">6</span> of style. <b class="b2">impressive</b>, <span class="bibl">Demetr.<span class="title">Eloc.</span>278</span>; <b class="b3">μεῖζον</b> <b class="b2">more striking</b>, ib.<span class="bibl">103</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">7</span> of days, <b class="b2">long</b>, Gal.12.714. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">B</span> Adv. <b class="b3">μεγάλως [ᾰ</b>] <b class="b2">greatly, mightily</b>, <span class="bibl">Od.16.432</span>, <span class="bibl">Hes.<span class="title">Th.</span> 429</span>, <span class="bibl">Hdt.1.16</span>,<span class="bibl">30</span>, al., <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Cyr.</span>8.2.10</span>, <span class="bibl">Parth.28.1</span>, etc.; strengthd., μάλα μ. <span class="bibl">Il.17.723</span>; δμαθέντες μ. <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Pers.</span>907</span> (lyr.); with Adjs., <span class="bibl">Hdt. 1.4</span>, <span class="bibl">7.190</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">II</span> more freq. neut. sg. <b class="b3">μέγα</b> as Adv., <b class="b2">very much, exceedingly</b>, <b class="b3">μ. χαῖρε</b> <b class="b2">all</b> hail!, v. l. for <b class="b3">μάλα</b> in <span class="bibl">Od.24.402</span>; esp. with Verbs expressing strong feeling, μ. κεν κεχαροίατο <span class="bibl">Il.1.256</span>; μ. κήδεται <span class="bibl">2.27</span>, etc.: with Verbs expressing power, might, μ. πάντων . . κρατέει <span class="bibl">1.78</span>; ὃς μ. πάντων. . ἤνασσε <span class="bibl">10.32</span>; πατρὸς μ. δυναμένοιο <span class="bibl">Od.1.276</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">Hom.<span class="title">Epigr.</span>15.1</span>, <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Eu.</span>950</span> (anap.), <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Hel.</span>1358</span> (lyr.), <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ra.</span>141</span>, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">R.</span>366a</span>; μ. δύνασθαι παρά τινι <span class="bibl">Th.2.29</span>; πλουτέειν μ. <span class="bibl">Hdt.1.32</span>; or those expressing sound, <b class="b2">loudly</b>, <b class="b3">μ. ἰάχειν, ἀῧσαι, βοῆσαι, εὔξασθαι, ἀμβῶσαι</b>, <span class="bibl">Il.2.333</span>, <span class="bibl">14.147</span>, <span class="bibl">17.334</span>, <span class="bibl">Od.17.239</span>, <span class="bibl">Hdt.1.8</span> (also pl., μεγάλ' εὔχετο <span class="bibl">Il.1.450</span>; <b class="b3">μ. αὐδήσαντος, μ. ἤπυεν</b>, <span class="bibl">Od.4.505</span>, <span class="bibl">9.399</span>): strengthd., μάλα μ. <span class="bibl">Il.15.321</span>; μ. δ' ἔβραχε φήγινος ἄξων <span class="bibl">5.838</span>, etc.: so in Trag. with all kinds of Verbs, <b class="b3">μ. στένειν, σθένειν, χλίειν</b>, <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Ag.</span>711</span> (lyr.), <span class="bibl">938</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ch.</span>137</span>: also in pl., μεγάλα. . δυστυχεῖς <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Eu.</span>791</span> (lyr.). </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">2</span> of Space, <b class="b2">far</b>, μέγα προθορών <span class="bibl">Il.14.363</span>; <b class="b3">ἄνευθε μέγα</b> <b class="b2">far</b> away, <span class="bibl">22.88</span>; οὐκ ἂν μέγα τι τῆς ἀληθείας παρεξέλθοις <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Phlb.</span>66b</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">3</span> with Adjs., as <b class="b3">μέγ' ἔξοχος, μέγα νήπιος</b>, <span class="bibl">Il.2.480</span>, <span class="bibl">16.46</span>; <b class="b3">μ. νήπιε</b> Orac. ap. <span class="bibl">Hdt.1.85</span>; μ. πλούσιος <span class="bibl">Id.1.32</span>, <span class="bibl">7.190</span>; ὦ μέγ' εὔδαιμον κόρη <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Pr.</span>647</span>: with Comp. and Sup., <b class="b2">by far</b>, <b class="b3">μέγ' ἀμείνονες, ἄριστος, φέρτατος</b>, <span class="bibl">Il.4.405</span>, <span class="bibl">2.82</span>, <span class="bibl">16.21</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">C</span> degrees of Comparison (regul. <b class="b3">μεγαλώτερος, -ώτατος</b> late, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">EM</span>780.1</span>,<span class="bibl">2</span>): </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">1</span> Comp. <b class="b3">μείζων, ον</b>, gen. ονος, Ep., Att. (also Delph., <span class="title">SIG</span>246 <span class="title">H</span>260 (iv B. C.)); Ion., Arc., Dor., Aeol. <b class="b3">μέζων, ον</b>, <span class="bibl">Heraclit. 25</span>, <span class="bibl">Hp.<span class="title">Acut.</span>44</span>, <span class="bibl">Hdt.1.26</span>, <span class="title">IG</span>7.235.16 (Oropus), 5(2).3.18 (Tegea), <span class="bibl">Epich.62</span> (also early Att., <span class="title">IG</span>12.22.65, but [<b class="b3">με] ίζων</b> ib.6.93, by analogy of <b class="b3">ὀλείζων</b> ib.76,95); dat. pl. μεζόνεσσι Diotog. ap. Stob.4.7.62: written <b class="b3">μέσδων</b> in <span class="bibl">Sapph.<span class="title">Supp.</span>7.6</span>, <span class="bibl">Plu.<span class="title">Lyc.</span>19</span>: cf. μέττον· <b class="b3">μεῖζον</b>, Hsch. (dub.); later μειζότερος <span class="title">3 Ep.Jo.</span>4 (used as title, <b class="b2">elder</b>, POxy. 943.3 (vi A. D.), etc.); μειζονώτερος <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Fr.</span>434</span>:—<b class="b2">greater, longer, taller</b>, <span class="bibl">Il.3.168</span>, <span class="bibl">9.202</span>, etc.; freq. also, <b class="b2">too great</b>, γέρας <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Sph.</span>231a</span>; <b class="b3">Μηνόφιλος μείζων</b> M. <b class="b2">the elder</b>, Ostr.Bodl.v<span class="title">C</span> 2 (ii A. D.); as title, μειζων <b class="b3">κώμης</b> <b class="b2">headman</b> of a village, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">POxy.</span>1626.5</span> (iv A. D.), etc.: generally, <b class="b2">the higher authority</b>, PLond.2.214.22 (iii A. D.), <span class="bibl"><span class="title">POxy.</span>1204.17</span> (pl., iii A. D.); <b class="b3">οὔτε μεῖζον οὔτε ἔλαττον</b>, a strong form of denial, <b class="b2">nothing whatever</b>, <span class="bibl">D.H.<span class="title">Comp.</span>4</span>; οὐδαμὰ προὔφηνεν οὔτε μείζον' οὔτ' ἐλάττονα <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Tr.</span>324</span>. Adv. μειζόνως <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Hec.</span>1121</span>, <span class="bibl">Th.1.130</span>, <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Cyn.</span>13.3</span>, <span class="bibl">Isoc.9.21</span>, etc.; Ion. μεζόνως <span class="bibl">Hdt.3.128</span>, <span class="bibl">Herod.4.80</span>, etc.: neut. as Adv., μεῖζον σθένειν <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Ph.</span>456</span>, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Supp.</span>216</span>; μ. ἰσχύειν <span class="bibl">D.<span class="title">Ep.</span>3.28</span>; ἐπὶ μ. ἔρχεται <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Ph.</span>259</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">2</span> Sup. <b class="b3">μέγιστος, η, ον</b>, <span class="bibl">Il.2.412</span>, etc.: neut. as Adv., μέγιστον ἴσχυσε <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Aj.</span>502</span>; <b class="b3">δυνάμενος μ</b>., c. gen., <span class="bibl">Hdt.7.5</span>, <span class="bibl">9.9</span>: with another Sup., μέγιστον ἐχθίστη <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Med.</span>1323</span>: in pl., χαῖρ' ὡς μέγιστα <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Ph.</span>462</span>; θάλλει μ. <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">OC</span>700</span> (lyr.); τὰ μέγιστ' ἐτιμάθης <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">OT</span>1203</span> (lyr.); <b class="b3">ἐς μέγιστον</b> ib.<span class="bibl">521</span>; ἐς τὰ μ. <span class="bibl">Hdt.8.111</span>:—late Sup. μεγιστότατος <span class="bibl"><span class="title">PLond.</span>1.130.49</span> (i/ii A. D.). (Cf. Skt. <b class="b2">majmán</b>- 'greatness', Lat. <b class="b2">magnus</b>, Goth. <b class="b2">mikils</b> 'great'.)</span>