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proverbs
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ΕΙ
epsiloniota
35
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high
35
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Short
32
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David Whitehead
26
Catharine Roth
5
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35 entries
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Letter: epsiloniota
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ει
67
Εἰ καὶ λύκου ἐμνήσθης
if you even mentioned a wolf
This is said in reference to things one might mention which then suddenly appeared.
high
short
ει
77
Εἰκῇ
at random
[Meaning] in vain/to no purpose. [There is] a proverb: 'don't at random to Abydos'. It leaves out 'sail' or 'journey'. It is said in reference to those taking risks.
high
short
ει
78
Εἰκῆ ῥαψῳδεῖ
sings at random
Meaning he/she/it talks nonsense. "He pretends madness, and says one thing after another randomly and by chance, and no second [word] agreeing with the preceding."
rhetoric
2
rhetoric
2
women
2
women
2
aetiology
1
aetiology
1
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1
Christianity
1
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1
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1
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high
short
ει
79
Εἰκῇ τῷ Ἡρακλεῖ
at random for Heracles
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who accomplish deeds in a difficult manner.
high
short
ει
89
Εἰκότων
probable [things]
[Meaning] similar [ones]. "But he, if anything happened, made false claims to each person who approached, inventing them on the basis of probabilities." That is, [he] told lies. And [there is] a proverb: "at …
high
short
ει
118
Εἴληφεν ἡ παγὶς τὸν μῦν
the trap caught the mouse
[sc. A proverbial saying] in reference to those deservedly caught.
high
short
ει
146
Εἰ μὲν οὖν
so if
"[So if] the fellow, who must be the object of many insults, had himself been obvious, I would not have made mention of a [man who is a] friend; but as it is, everybody …
high
medium
ει
147
Εἰ μὴ δύναιο βοῦν ἔλαυνε ὄνον
if you can't [drive] an ox drive a donkey
A proverb in reference to those advising [people] to act in accordance with the resources they have.
high
short
ει
149
Εἰ μὴ πατὴρ ἦσθα
were you not my father
By abbreviation. The full version [is], "[were you not my father] I would say you are not in your right mind."
high
short
ει
150
Εἰ μὴ ταχέως ἀπολώμεθα οὐκ ἂν ἐσώθημεν
had we not perished so fast we would not have been saved
Everyone then had the proverb on their lips. Those falling headlong [say it].
high
short
ει
175
Εἴποις τὰ τρία παρὰ τῇ αὐλῇ
you might say the three things by the court
Those being led to their death used to have freedom of speech, once they were full of food and wine, to say three things which they wanted; after which they were silenced and led …
high
short
ει
229
Εἷς ἀνήρ οὐδεὶς ἀνήρ
one man (is) no man
Inasmuch as nothing is done right by one man [alone].
high
short
ει
230
Εἰς ἀρχαίας φάτνας
into old mangers
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who have lost the enjoyment of something, but regain it.
high
short
ει
231
Εἰς ἀσθενοῦντας ἀσθενῶν ἐλήλυθα
I have visited the sick when sick
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those experiencing similar and comparable things.
high
short
ει
241
Εἰς δέον
needfully, to meet a need
'The hero summoned him by his father's name: "I found you needfully", he said, "for I wish to summon you to a feast."' Meaning I found you opportunely. And a [there is] proverb: 'for …
high
short
ει
276
Εἰς θεῶν ὦτα ἦλθεν
it came to the gods' ears
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those not escaping notice for their deeds.
high
short
ει
283
Εἰς κόλπον πτύειν
to spit into [one's] lap
This [is] tantamount to saying 'I am careful not to be a boaster'.
high
short
ει
284
Εἰς κόπρον θυμιᾷς
you are burning incense for shit
[sc. This proverb] is said by Attic writers in reference to things ineffectual and non-existent.
high
short
ει
291
Εἰς λατομίας
into (the) quarries
Philoxenos the dithyrambic poet could not stand the poetry of the tyrant Dionysius because it was so bad. On one occasion Dionysius sent him to the quarries, but later decided to have him brought …
high
medium
ει
293
Εἰς μελίττας ἐκώμασας
you started a party involving bees
A proverb in reference to those who unexpectedly find themselves in a lot of trouble.
high
short
ει
300
Εἰς οὐρανὸν τοξεύειν
to shoot arrows into heaven
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those stubbornly doing something useless.
high
short
ει
306
Εἰς πάγας ὁ λύκος
the wolf into traps
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to to the wicked, whenever they approach manifest danger.
high
short
ει
313
Εἰς πῦρ ξαίνειν
to card wool into a fire
Proverbial. In reference to those doing or saying something for themselves which goes to waste. Compare 'to sow seed upon rocks'.
high
short
ει
314
Εἰς τέφραν γράφειν
to write on ashes
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to impossible things. "I think I should write his oaths on ashes, as the proverb says."
high
short
ει
315
Εἰς τετρημένον πίθον ἀντλεῖν
to draw water into a perforated jar
The proverb is used because of the myth about the Danaids, inasmuch as they drew water into [such] a jar. The souls of the uninitiated suffer [in the same way] where this jar is …
high
short
ει
319
Ἐς τὸ δέον
for the necessary
[ei)s to\ de/on] and [sc. also attested in the form] e)s to\ de/on. Perikles, when he had given bribes to the enemy under Kleandridas' command, in order that they would not pillage the territory …
high
medium
ει
321
Εἰς τὸν τετρημένον
into the perforated
It leaves out 'to draw water' [and] 'jar'. [The proverb] is applied to those putting effort into something empty. For a myth has it that in the underworld the impious draw water into a …
high
short
ει
323
Εἰς Τροφωνίου μεμάντευται
it is prophesied into Trophonios' [cave]
The proverb is applied to gloomy and unlaughing people. For those descending into Trophonios are said to spend the entire time unlaughing. The story goes that Trophonios had the head of his brother Agamedes …
high
short
ει
324
Εἰς Τροιζῆνα δεῖ βαδίζειν
you need a walk to Troezen
It is said in reference to men with poor and sparse beards. For Pogon is a harbour [sc. giving access] into Troezen.
high
short
ει
326
Εἰς ὕδωρ σπείρειν
to sow seed into water
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those laboring in vain; like 'to write on water'.
high
short
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