Ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν

in a nutshell; so to speak

Translated by Catharine Roth13 Sep 2005Vetting: high4 revisions

2 notes · 96 words
[Meaning] as it appears, and as to say in a word. *(ws e)/pos ei)pei=n -- this is arranged in the ancient writers also as w(s ei)pei=n e)/pos and w(s e)/pos fa/nai and w(s fa/nai e)/pos. It is also expressed with one word, as w(s fa/nai and w(s ei)pei=n. All these have the same meaning.1
Elsewhere Aristotle says w(s tu/pw| perilabei=n ["as to include in outline"]: he has said this, because it is not possible defining accurately to call those premises which relate to choice and avoidance ethical, but those which relate to truth and knowledge natural.2

Greek original · Adler’s text

Ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν· ὡς φαίνεται, καὶ ὡς ἐν λόγῳ εἰπεῖν. ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, τοῦτο σχηματίζεται παρὰ τοῖς παλαιοῖς καὶ ὡς εἰπεῖν ἔπος καὶ ὡς ἔπος φάναι καὶ ὡς φάναι ἔπος. ἔτι δὲ καὶ διὰ μιᾶς λέξεως ἐκφωνεῖται, οἷον ὡς φάναι, καὶ ὡς εἰπεῖν. σημαίνει δὲ πάντα τὸ αὐτό. ἀλλαχοῦ δὲ λέγει Ἀριστοτέλης ὡς τύπῳ περιλαβεῖν. τοῦτο δὲ εἴρηκεν, ὅτι μή ἐστιν ἀκριβῶς ἀφορίσαντα εἰπεῖν τὰς μὲν τῶν προτάσεων πρὸς αἵρεσιν καὶ φυγὴν συντεινούσας ἠθικάς, τὰς δὲ πρὸς ἀλήθειαν καὶ γνῶσιν φυσικάς.

Betacode
*(ws e)/pos ei)pei=n: w(s fai/netai, kai\ w(s e)n lo/gw| ei)pei=n. w(s e)/pos ei)pei=n, tou=to sxhmati/zetai para\ toi=s palaioi=s kai\ w(s ei)pei=n e)/pos kai\ w(s e)/pos fa/nai kai\ w(s fa/nai e)/pos. e)/ti de\ kai\ dia\ mia=s le/cews e)kfwnei=tai, oi(=on w(s fa/nai, kai\ w(s ei)pei=n. shmai/nei de\ pa/nta to\ au)to/. a)llaxou= de\ le/gei *)aristote/lhs w(s tu/pw| perilabei=n. tou=to de\ ei)/rhken, o(/ti mh/ e)stin a)kribw=s a)fori/santa ei)pei=n ta\s me\n  tw=n prota/sewn pro\s ai(/resin kai\ fugh\n sunteinou/sas h)qika/s, ta\s de\ pro\s a)lh/qeian kai\ gnw=sin fusika/s.

Notes (2)

  1. See also omega 228.
  2. 1From the scholia on Plato, Symposium 186A; cf. the scholia on Plato, Republic 1.341A. ↩
  3. 2Not Aristotle directly, but Alexander of Aphrodisias, Commentaries on Aristotle's Topica 94.11-14 Wallies. ↩

Linked from2 entries

Neighbouring entries

ω225Ὡς ἔνι μάλισταas it is most in [someone]; as much as possibleω226Ὡς ἐπίπανon the wholeω227Ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖνin a nutshell; so to speakω228Ὡς τύπῳ εἰπεῖνto speak as in outlineω229Ὡς ἐς πᾶν ἀπορίας ἀφικέσθαιarrive as (if) at a state of total perplexity
Revision history4 revisions · last 20 May 2016
  1. coding — David Whitehead
  2. Revised — David Whitehead
  3. another keyword — David Whitehead
  4. augmented headword; x-ref; cosmetics — David Whitehead
  5. Translated — Catharine Roth

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