Ῥᾷόν τις τοὺς ὀδόντας ἠρίθμησεν ἢ τοὺς δακτύλους
the teeth were more easily counted than the fingers
Translated by David Whitehead30 Oct 2001Vetting: high4 revisions
Translation
[sc. A proverbial saying] in reference to old men.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Ῥᾷόν τις τοὺς ὀδόντας ἠρίθμησεν ἢ τοὺς δακτύλους· ἐπὶ γερόντων.
Betacode
*(ra=|o/n tis tou\s o)do/ntas h)ri/qmhsen h)\ tou\s daktu/lous: e)pi\ gero/ntwn.
Notes
- The headword phrase, unglossed, is also in Photius (rho51 Theodoridis).
Deriving from a courtroom witticism in Lysias, In reply to Aischines the Socratic. See the long extract preserved in Athenaeus, Deipnosophists 13.611E-612F (13.95 Kaibel), at 612F, of a 70-year-old woman there, whose teeth were fewer than the fingers of one hand.
Linked from4 entries
- ρ40Ῥᾷονeasier, more easy, rather easy[Meaning something] simple, content. And [there is] a proverb: 'More easily than the Boeotians went over Oreion' [This is said] in reference to those who go over boundaries [horoi] and moderation; for Oreion is a…
- ρ41Ῥᾴονοςof an easier, of a more easy, of a rather easy[no gloss]
- ρ44Ῥᾴωνeasier, readier, rather easy, rather ready[Meaning] more/rather willing, and without trouble.
- ρ127Ῥηΐδιονready[Meaning] easy. Also [sc. attested is the related adverb] r(hi+di/ws ["readily"].
Neighbouring entries
Revision history4 revisions · last 25 Oct 2013
- Revised — David Whitehead
- expanded note — David Whitehead
- augmented note and keywords — David Whitehead
- Revised — Catharine Roth
- Translated — David Whitehead