Σεσέλλισαι
you have Sellus-ized
Translated by William Hutton20 Oct 2013Vetting: high2 revisions
Translation
[Meaning] you have become foolishly elated. [sc. The word comes] from Aeschines the son of Sellus, who was a braggart and boastful both in engaging in conversation in pretending to be wealthy. But Lycophron has rendered selli/zesqai ['to Sellus-ize'] in place of yelli/zesqai ['to mumble'].1
For Aeschines, although he was poor, gave himself airs for wealth, saying that he was a rich man. Aeschines was the son of Sellus. As a metaphor they used to call such people Selluses and being boastful 'Sellus-izing'.2
For Aeschines, although he was poor, gave himself airs for wealth, saying that he was a rich man. Aeschines was the son of Sellus. As a metaphor they used to call such people Selluses and being boastful 'Sellus-izing'.2
Greek original · Adler’s text
Σεσέλλισαι· μάτην ἐπῆρσαι. ἀπὸ Αἰσχίνου τοῦ Σέλλου, ὃς ἦν κομπαστὴς καὶ ἀλαζὼν ἔν τε τῷ διαλέγεσθαι καὶ ἐν τῷ προσποιεῖσθαι πλουτεῖν. Λυκόφρων δ' ἀπέδωκε τὸ σελλίζεσθαι ἀντὶ τοῦ ψελλίζεσθαι. ὁ γὰρ Αἰσχίνης πένης ὢν ἐθρύπτετο ἐπὶ πλούτῳ, λέγων ἑαυτὸν πλούσιον. ἦν δὲ Αἰσχίνης Σέλλου. ἐκ μεταφορᾶς δὲ ἔλεγον τοὺς τοιούτους Σέλλους καὶ τὸ ἀλαζονεύεσθαι σελλίζειν.
Betacode
*sese/llisai: ma/thn e)ph=rsai. a)po\ *ai)sxi/nou tou= *se/llou, o(\s h)=n kompasth\s kai\ a)lazw\n e)/n te tw=| diale/gesqai kai\ e)n tw=| prospoiei=sqai ploutei=n. *luko/frwn d' a)pe/dwke to\ selli/zesqai a)nti\ tou= yelli/zesqai. o( ga\r *ai)sxi/nhs pe/nhs w)\n e)qru/pteto e)pi\ plou/tw|, le/gwn e(auto\n plou/sion. h)=n de\ *ai)sxi/nhs *se/llou. e)k metafora=s de\ e)/legon tou\s toiou/tous *se/llous kai\ to\ a)lazoneu/esqai selli/zein.
Notes (2)
- The headword is the perfect middle indicative, second person singular, of
selli/zw (on which see theta 81 and sigma 210). The only known literary attestation of this form of the verb is in a fragment from the comic playwright Phrynichus (see n. 1). - 1= Photius sigma151 Theodoridis; identified as commentary on Phrynichus' Kronios (fr. 10 Kock & Kassel-Austin) at Hesychius sigma324. See also Hesychius sigma438. On the reference to Lycophron (fr. 122 Steckers) cf. Herodian, On Orthography 3.2.579.29, Hesychius sigma392. ↩
- 2Derived from commentary on Aristophanes, Birds 823, where this Aeschines (not alphaiota 346 or alphaiota 347) is mentioned, although the headword is not used. See also theta 81, sigma 210. ↩
Linked from2 entries
- θ81Θεαγένους χρήματα τά τ' ΑἰσχίνουTheagenes' property and Aeschines' too[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who are poor, yet boastful. For this man [sc. Theagenes], though poor, used to say that he was rich. (There are also two other [men called] Theagenes: one wrote about…
- σ210Σελλίζεινto Sellus-ize, to act like a SellusThe [verb that means] to be pretentious. From a certain Sellus who was poor and pretended to be rich.
Neighbouring entries
Revision history2 revisions · last 23 Dec 2013
- Revised — David Whitehead
- tweaks and cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Translated — William Hutton