Greek adjective
μέγας
μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα
μέγας is a Greek adjective. In the 6 analysed lines it was read in, it means “greatest” (3 times), “great” (2 times) and “great things” (once).
In the texts
Each line as the reader shows it: every word in its case colour with its meaning underneath, and arcs from μέγας to the words it goes with.
ἥπερ μεγίστη γίγνεται σωτηρία, ὅταν γυνὴ πρὸς ἄνδρα μὴ διχοστατῇ.
which becomes the greatest salvation, when a wife is not at odds with her husband.
μεγίστη: describes σωτηρία.
ἐπειδὴ δέ μοι παιδίον γίγνεται, ἐπίστευον ἤδη καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐμαυτοῦ ἐκείνῃ παρέδωκα, ἡγούμενος ταύτην οἰκειότητα μεγίστην εἶναι·
But since a child was born to me, I now trusted her and handed over all my belongings to her, believing this to be the greatest bond of kinship.
μεγίστην: describes οἰκειότητα.
…γενόμενα ἐξ ἀνθρώπων τῷ χρόνῳ ἐξίτηλα γένηται, μήτε ἔργα μεγάλα τε καὶ θωμαστά, τὰ μὲν Ἕλλησι τὰ δὲ βαρβάροισι…
This is the publication of the history of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, in order that neither the things that came into being from humans may become faded by time, nor great and wondrous deeds, some by Greeks and some by barbarians, may become inglorious, and also (to explain) the other things and for what reason they waged war against one another.
μεγάλα: describes ἔργα.
…ὡς ἐπολέμησαν πρὸς ἀλλήλους, ἀρξάμενος εὐθὺς καθισταμένου καὶ ἐλπίσας μέγαν τε ἔσεσθαι καὶ ἀξιολογώτατον τῶν προγεγενημένων, τεκμαιρόμενος ὅτι ἀκμάζοντές…
Thucydides the Athenian wrote the history of the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, how they waged war against each other, beginning immediately at its outbreak and expecting that it would be both great and the most worthy of record of previous wars, judging that both sides were at their peak going into it with all their resources, and seeing the rest of the Greek world assembling with each side, some immediately, others also intending to do so.
μέγαν: completes ἔσεσθαι.
κίνησις γὰρ αὕτη μεγίστη δὴ τοῖς Ἕλλησιν ἐγένετο καὶ μέρει τινὶ τῶν βαρβάρων, ὡς δὲ εἰπεῖν καὶ ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ἀνθρώπων.
For this was indeed the greatest movement for the Greeks and a certain part of the barbarians, and, one might say, over most of mankind.
μεγίστη: describes κίνησις.
…τεκμηρίων ὧν ἐπὶ μακρότατον σκοποῦντί μοι πιστεῦσαι ξυμβαίνει οὐ μεγάλα νομίζω γενέσθαι οὔτε κατὰ τοὺς πολέμους οὔτε ἐς τὰ…
For it was impossible to find out clearly the events before them and even older ones due to the great amount of time; but from the evidence which it is possible for me to trust after observing it at length, I consider that neither great things happened regarding the wars nor in other matters.
μεγάλα: completes γενέσθαι.
Forms
Every form of the word in these texts, with what it is.
| Form | Grammar | Read |
|---|---|---|
| μεγίστη | Nominative · Singular · Feminine · Superlative | 2 |
| μεγάλα | Nominative · Plural · Neuter | 1 |
| μεγάλα | Accusative · Plural · Neuter | 1 |
| μέγαν | Accusative · Singular · Masculine | 1 |
| μεγίστην | Accusative · Singular · Feminine · Superlative | 1 |
Words it goes with
Joined to μέγας by an arc in these lines, most often first.
Grammar
- About the nominativeThe Greek nominative names the subject and the word that renames it after εἰμί. How to spot it, and how the article helps, with lines from John and Aesop.
- About the accusativeThe Greek accusative marks the direct object, motion towards after εἰς and πρός, and the subject of an infinitive. Real lines from Homer, Aesop and John.
- About agreementHow Greek articles, adjectives and participles agree with their nouns in case, number and gender, and how the article frames a phrase, shown in real lines.
- About word orderWhy a Greek adjective can stand far from its noun, as in the Odyssey’s first line: the endings carry the grammar, so order is free for emphasis.