σεμνός: Difference between revisions

|Definition=ή, όν, (σέβομαι) <span class="sense"><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">A</span> [[revered]], [[august]], [[holy]]: </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">I</span> prop. of gods, e.g. Demeter, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">h.Cer.</span>1</span>,<span class="bibl">486</span>; Hecate, <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">P.</span>3.79</span>; Thetis, <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">N.</span>5.25</span>; Apollo, <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Th.</span>800</span>; Poseidon, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">OC</span>55</span>; Pallas Athena, ib.<span class="bibl">1090</span> (lyr.); at Athens the Erinyes were specially the <b class="b3">σεμναὶ θεαί</b>, <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Aj.</span>837</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">OC</span> 90</span>,<span class="bibl">458</span>, <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Eq.</span>1312</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Th.</span>224</span>, <span class="bibl">Th.1.126</span>, Autocl. ap. <span class="bibl">Arist.<span class="title">Rh.</span>1398b26</span>; or simply <b class="b3">Σεμναί</b>, <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Eu.</span>383</span> (lyr.), <span class="bibl">1041</span> (lyr.), <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Or.</span>410</span>; <b class="b3">τὸ σ. ὄνομα</b> their name, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">OC</span>41</span>; <b class="b3">σ. βάθρον</b> the threshold of their temple, ib.<span class="bibl">100</span>; <b class="b3">σ. τέλη</b> their rites, ib. <span class="bibl">1050</span> (lyr.). </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">2</span> of things divine, <b class="b3">ὄργια σ</b>. <span class="bibl"><span class="title">h.Cer.</span>478</span>, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Tr.</span>765</span>; θέμεθλα δίκης <span class="bibl">Sol.4.14</span>; ὑγίεια <span class="bibl">Simon.70</span>; θυσία <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">O.</span>7.42</span>; <b class="b3">σ. ἄντρον</b> the cave of Cheiron, <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">P.</span>9.30</span>, cf. <span class="bibl"><span class="title">O.</span>5.18</span>; <b class="b3">σ. δόμος</b> the temple of Apollo, <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">N.</span>1.72</span>; παιάν <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Pers.</span>393</span>; <b class="b3">σέλμα σ. ἡμένων</b>, of the Olympian gods, <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Ag.</span>183</span> (lyr.); <b class="b3">σ. ἔργα</b>, of the gods, <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Supp.</span>1037</span> (lyr.); μυστήρια <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Fr.</span>804</span>, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Hipp.</span>25</span>; <b class="b3">τέρμων οὐρανοῦ</b> ib.<span class="bibl">746</span>; <b class="b3">σ. βίος</b> [[devoted to the gods]], <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Ion</span> 56</span>; <b class="b3">σεμνὰ φθέγγεσθαι</b>, = [[εὔφημα]], <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Ch.</span>109</span> (v.l.), cf. <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Nu.</span>315</span>,<span class="bibl">364</span>; <b class="b3">ἦ πού τι σ. ἔστιν ὃ ξυναμπέχεις</b>; <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Pr.</span>521</span>; <b class="b3">τὸ σ</b>. [[holiness]], <span class="bibl">D.21.126</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">II</span> of human or half-human beings, [[reverend]], [[august]], ἐν θρόνῳ σεμνῷ σεμνὸν θωκέοντα <span class="bibl">Hdt.2.173</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Ch.</span>975</span>, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Supp.</span>384</span>, al.; σ. θάλος Ἀλκαϊδᾶν <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">O.</span>6.68</span>; τὸ σχῆμα σεμνὸς κοὐ ταπεινός <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Fr.</span>688</span>; <b class="b3">αἱ φαυλότεραι . . παρὰ τὰς σεμνὰς καθεδοῦνται</b> beside [[the great ladies]], <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ec.</span>617</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">Isoc.3.42</span>; οἱ σεμνότατοι ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Phdr.</span>257d</span>; <b class="b3">ἄνθρωπος οὐ σ</b>., i.e. a nobody, <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Fr.</span>52D.</span>; opp. <b class="b3">χαῦνος</b>, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Sph.</span>227b</span> (Comp.); opp. <b class="b3">κομψός</b>, <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Oec.</span>8.19</span>; σεμνὸς οὐ προσώπου συναγωγαῖς ἀλλὰ βίου κατασκευαῖς <span class="bibl">Isoc.9.44</span>: c. dat., <b class="b2">revered by . .</b>, σ. πόλει <span class="title">Riv.Fil.</span>57.379 (Crete); also, [[worthy of respect]], [[honourable]], <span class="bibl"><span class="title">1 Ep.Ti.</span>3.8</span>, <span class="bibl">11</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ep.Phil.</span> 4.8</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">2</span> of human things, [[august]], [[stately]], [[majestic]], θᾶκοι <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Ag.</span> 519</span>; ἱμάτια <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Pl.</span>940</span>, cf. <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ra.</span>1061</span> (Comp.); ταφή <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">HG</span>3.3.1</span>; <b class="b3">πράγματα, ἔργα</b>, <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">V.</span>1472</span>, <span class="bibl">Isoc.12.213</span>; σεμνοτέραν τὴν πόλιν ποιῆσαι <span class="bibl">Is.5.45</span>; οἰκία τοῦ γείτονος οὐδὲν σεμνοτέρα <span class="bibl">D.3.26</span>, cf. 29; ψεύδεσι [τοῦ Ὁμήρου] σ. ἔπεστί τι <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">N.</span>7.22</span>; λεγόντων . . περὶ αὐτοῦ σ. λόγους <span class="bibl">Hdt.7.6</span>; of Tragedy, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Grg.</span>502b</span>; of style, <span class="bibl">Arist.<span class="title">Po.</span>1458a21</span>, cf.<span class="bibl"><span class="title">Rh.</span> 1404b8</span> (Comp.); of certain metres, ib.<span class="bibl">1408b32</span>; <b class="b3">ἐπὶ τὸ σ. μιμεῖσθαι</b> to imitate it in its [[noble qualities]], <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Lg.</span>814e</span>; <b class="b3">σ. τι λέγειν, πράσσειν</b>, <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">R.</span>382b</span>, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Tr.</span>447</span>; σεμνὰ ἄττα μεμαθηκότας <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Ep.</span>342a</span>; <b class="b3">οὐδὲν σ</b>. nothing [[very wonderful]], <span class="bibl">Arist.<span class="title">EN</span>1146a15</span>; so <b class="b3">τί ἂν εἴη τὸ σ</b>. (sc. <b class="b3">τοῦ νοῦ</b>); <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Metaph.</span>1074b18</span>; [[worthy of respect]], <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">IA</span>996</span>; <b class="b3">σεμνόν ἐστι</b>, c. inf., 'tis a [[noble]], [[fine]] thing to... <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Cra.</span>392a</span>, <span class="bibl">Isoc.<span class="title">Ep.</span>9.5</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">3</span> metaph., <b class="b3">σ. βρῶμα</b> a [[noble]] dish, <span class="bibl">Aristopho 7</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">Archestr.<span class="title">Fr.</span>20</span>; σ. ὀσμή <span class="bibl">Mnesim.4.60</span>, etc. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">III</span> in bad sense, [[proud]], [[haughty]], τὰ σέμν' ἔπη <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Aj.</span>1107</span>; σεμνότερος καὶ φοβερώτερος <span class="bibl">And.4.18</span>; <b class="b3">τὸ σ</b>. [[haughty reserve]], <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Hipp.</span>93</span>, cf. <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Med.</span>216</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">2</span> in contempt or irony, [[solemn]], [[pompous]], σ. καὶ ἅγιον <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Sph.</span>249a</span>; <b class="b3">τί σεμνὸν καὶ πεφροντικὸς βλέπεις</b>; look [[grave and solemn]], <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Alc.</span>773</span>; τὸ σ. ἄγαν καὶ τραγικόν <span class="bibl">Arist.<span class="title">Rh.</span>1406b7</span>: very freq. in Com., ἀνελκτοῖς ὀφρύσι σεμνός <span class="bibl">Cratin. 355</span>; <b class="b3">ὡς σ. οὑπίτριπτος</b> how [[grand]] the rascal is! <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Pl.</span>275</span>; ὡς σ. ὁ κατάρατος <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Ra.</span>178</span>; <b class="b3">λόγοι σ</b>. <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">V.</span>1175</span>; σεμνὸς σεμνῶς χλανίδ' ἕλκων <span class="bibl">Ephipp.19</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">IV</span> Adv. -νῶς <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Supp.</span>193</span>, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Ion</span> 1133</span>, <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">V.</span>585</span>, etc.; <b class="b3">ὥσπερ κοχλίας σεμνῶς ἐπηρκὼς τὰς ὀφρῦς</b>, of Plato, <span class="bibl">Amphis 13</span>; σεμνῶς κεκοσμημένος <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Cyr.</span>6.1.6</span>, etc.; περὶ εὐτελῶν σ. λέγειν <span class="bibl">Arist.<span class="title">Rh.</span>1408a13</span>: Comp. -ότερον <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Mem.</span>3.5.20</span>: Sup. -ότατα <span class="bibl">Plb.15.31.7</span>.</span>

|etymtx=Grammatical information: adj.<br />Meaning: [[venerable]], [[honoured]], [[holy]], [[noble]], also [[haughty]], [[proud]] (h. Cer.).<br />Compounds: Many compp., e.g. <b class="b3">σεμνό-μαντις</b> m. [[venerable seer]] (S.; Risch IF 59, 273), <b class="b3">ἄ-σεμνος</b> [[unworthy]], [[ignoble]] (Arist. etc.; Frisk Adj. priv. 15).<br />Derivatives: 1. <b class="b3">σεμν-ότης</b> f. [[dignity]], [[noble being]], [[proud]] (Att.), 2. <b class="b3">-εῖον</b> n. [[holy building]] (Ph.; after <b class="b3">ἀρχεῖον</b> a.o.); 3. <b class="b3">-ύνομαι</b>, <b class="b3">-ύνω</b>, also w. <b class="b3">ἀπο-</b>, <b class="b3">ἐπι-</b>, <b class="b3">ὑπερ-</b> a. o. <b class="b2">to allege ones dignity, to exalt oneself, to be proud</b> resp. <b class="b2">to make venerable, to exalt, to praise</b> (Hdt., Att.; after <b class="b3">θρασύνομαι</b>, <b class="b3">-ύνω</b>, <b class="b3">αἰσχύνομαι</b> a.o.; cf. Fraenkel Denom. 37); to this, prob. as backformations (cf. Strömberg Prefix Studies 98), <b class="b3">ὑπέρ-</b>, <b class="b3">ἐπί-σεμνος</b> (late); 4. <b class="b3">-όω</b> = <b class="b3">-ύνω</b> (Hdt.) with <b class="b3">-ωμα</b> n. [[dignity]], [[majesty]] (Epicur.).<br />Origin: IE [Indo-European] [1086] <b class="b2">*ti̯egʷ-</b> [[with shame]], [[respect withdraw for]]<br />Etymology: Formation as <b class="b3">ἁγνός</b> a. o.; old verbal adj. (from <b class="b3">*σεβ-νός</b>) to [[σέβομαι]] (s. v.) with possible connection to the <b class="b3">σ-</b>stem in <b class="b3">σέβας</b> (cf. Benveniste Origines 33). -- On <b class="b3">σεμνός</b> a. cogn. in Plato de Vries Mnem. 3: 12, 151 ff.