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λ8ΛάβραξbassA kind of fish. And [there is] a proverb: 'Milesian basses'. The appellation was applied because its mouth gapes open and it swallows the bait readily and eagerly [la/brws]; consequently it is easily caught. …highmedium
λ30Λαγὼς περὶ τῶν κρεῶνa hare [runs] for his lifeA proverb: for the hare [is] a cowardly animal. Hence a man from Rhegium was called a hare; for they used to satirize the people of Rhegium for cowardice. There is a proverb: 'the …highmedium
λ64Λακωνικαὶ κλεῖδεςLakonian keys, Laconian keysThe same Aristophanes [mentions them]; they are famous. "For the husbands now carry secret keys, most ill-natured ones, certain Lakonian ones, with [three] teeth. So previously it was possible, for women who had had …highmedium
λ84ΛαμίαLamiaShe, as Douris tells in [book] 2 of his Libyan Histories, was a beautiful woman in Libya; after Zeus had mated with her, Hera was jealous and killed her children; hence, out of grief, …highmedium
λ87Λαμπάδιον περὶ τὸ σφυρόνlint-bandage round the ankleSome [sc. explain this as] a light glove, some as a kind of outer bandage, some as the doctors' splint [for] putting the ankle in a splint, some as field-plasters. Aristophanes [writes]: "a lint-bandage …highmedium
λ121Λαρινοὶ βόεςLarinian oxen, fatted oxen[Meaning] the ones from Epirus, [named] after Larinus the oxherd who stole the oxen of Heracles -- as Lykos of Rhegion [states] -- when [Heracles] brought the oxen of Geriones. But Proxenos [says] that …highmedium
λ226ΛέαιναlionessA creature, a wild beast. And Aristophanes [writes]: "I will not stand like a lioness on a cheesegrater". Meaning in the manner of a lioness. It is a shameful [sexual] position used by courtesans. …highmedium
λ264ΛεώκριτοςLeokritos, Leocritus"If anyone were to wing [K]leokritos with Kinesias, and the winds were to bear [them] over the sea's plain." Comedy makes fun of Kinesias for being very slender and for being an alien and …highmedium
λ284Λέπαςcrag[Meaning a] headland. But a lepa/s ['limpet'] [is] a sort of mussel, affixed to the rocks, and very hard to yank off when someone wants to get hold of it. Aristophanes is fond of …highmedium
λ288ΛέπρεονLepreon, LepreumA city of Triphylia. [It takes its name] from the steep mountain nearby. Some, though, [derive the name] from the fact that the men founding it caught the disease of leprosy. As a neuter …highmedium
λ438Λήκυθονlekythos, oil-flaskAttic writers call an alabastron for perfume a lekythos [sc. feminine]; but Herodotus used the masculine gender for the alabastron. [These are] the oil-holding vessels. Aristophanes in Wealth [writes]: "the lekythoi are full of …highmedium
λ441ΛῆμαwillWorth and courage. Spirit, profit. "For this child brings such will to light." And Aristophanes in Clouds [writes]: "he has a will which is not cowardly." That is, daring. And elsewhere: "wild will." That …highmedium
λ447Λήμηblear, rheum, sleep-crust[Meaning] a white liquid gathering in eyes and causing short-sightedness. From the [verb] leu/w ["I see"] and the [negative] mh/ ["not"]. Aristophanes [writes]: "but o, opinions dating from Kronos truly are blearing your minds", …highmedium
λ467Ληρεῖςyou are babbling[Meaning] you are chattering. Aristophanes [writes]: "what on earth are you babbling about? It's as if you've fallen off a donkey!" They also say: "off the top of your head." And elsewhere: "you are …highmedium
λ557Λιμὸς ΜηλιαῖοςMelian famine, Melian hunger, Melian starvation[A phrase used] in reference to hardships. For during the Peloponnesian War the Athenians dispatched Nikias against everyone and laid siege to them so strenuously as to make them perish by starvation. And in …highmedium
λ604Λίσποιsmooths; half-dice[Meaning] knucklebones sawed through in the middle and bored out. Also [sc. attested is the phrase] 'smooth tongue', as one that has been rubbed. The Athenians, too, are called as an epithet smooths, because …highmedium
λ626ΛιτυέρσηςLityerses, reaping songA kind of song. Menander in Chalkedonians [writes]: "singing a Lityerses all the while since breakfast". But some [say that it is] a kind of piping. Lityerses was a bastard son of Minos, who …highmedium
λ658Λόγοςdiscourse; languageDiscourse is a meaningful uttered sound deriving from thought. It has 6 meanings. Expression and discourse are different; for an expression can be meaningless, like bli/turi, while discourse can in no way be meaningless. …highmedium
λ753Λοιδορεῖσθαι τοὺς πονηροὺςto revile the wicked["To revile the wicked] is not at all invidious; rather, to any right-thinking person, it is an honor to decent men." That is, reviling the wicked becomes an honor of the good. "So if …highmedium
λ789Λύζειsobs violently, wails, hiccupsIf [spelled] with a zeta, [it means] o)lolu/zei ["he/she/it cries aloud"]; but if without the a zeta [i.e. as lu/ei], [it means] a)lu/ei ["he/she/it is distraught"], that is, he/she/it is sorely troubled. Or lu/zei …highmedium
λ808ΛύκιςLykisAlso spoken of as Lykos. He was the target of comedy on the basis of being a frigid poet. Aristophanes [writes] : "why on earth should I have carried these bags, if I shall …highmedium
λ812Λυκόποδεςwolf-feet, white-feetThis is what they used to call the bodyguards of the [Peisistratid] tyrants; for they used to thrust the pick of the slaves into bodyguarding service. They were called "wolf-feet" because they always had …highmedium