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Words of the Odyssey · 94 headwords
Each word with its meanings, its forms, and the lines it stands in.
βάζω
you babble; to speak; babbles 14 times
βάζεις, βάζειν, βάζει, ἐβάζομεν, βέβακται, ἔβαζε, βάζουσι
present active indicative, 2nd singular verb; present active infinitive; present active indicative, 3rd singular verb
Perfect passive of βάζω, 'has been spoken,' emphasizing the lingering effect of a harsh word.
βάλλω
threw; struck; cast 155 times
βάλε, βάλεν, βάλον, βαλὼν, βάλλεο, βαλέειν, βάλλον, βάλοι and 47 more
aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist active participle, nominative singular masculine; imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb
βάλε 'cast, threw' is the vivid Homeric verb for sleep descending on someone, more physical than English 'came'.
βάπτω
dips once
βάπτῃ
present subjunctive in a generalizing/timeless simile clause — 'whenever he dips'.
βαθύζωνος
deep-girdled once
βαθυζώνους
βαθύζωνος, epithet for women describing a long belted robe
βαθύρροος
deep-flowing; deep-streamed twice
βαθυρρόου
βαθυρρόου: compound epithet for Okeanos, the mythic river encircling the world, marking the edge of the known earth.
βαθύς
deep; thick; deep, thick 7 times
βαθείης, βαθείῃ, βαθὺ, βαθεῖ, βαθεῖαν
genitive singular feminine adjective; dative singular feminine adjective; accusative singular neuter adjective
βαθυδίνης
deep-eddying once
βαθυδίνῃ
Stock Homeric epithet for Ocean, the river encircling the world.
βαίνω
went; had gone; he went 183 times
βῆ, ἔβη, βεβήκει, ἔβαν, βάντες, βῆμεν, βὰν, βαῖνε and 26 more
aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist active indicative, 3rd plural verb; pluperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb
Root aorist βαίνω form; the epic 3rd pl. -αν ending (ἔβαν) is common in Homer vs. Attic ἔβησαν.
βαρέω
heavy twice
βεβαρηότες, βεβαρηότα
perfect active participle, nominative plural masculine; perfect active participle, accusative singular masculine
perfect participle 'having been weighed down' — vivid image of drunken soldiers stumbling to assembly
βαρύς
heavily; heavy; deep 10 times
βαρέα, βαρὺ, βαρεῖαι, βαρὺν, βαρείης, βαρείῃ
accusative plural neuter adjective; accusative singular neuter adjective; nominative plural feminine adjective
Neuter accusative βαρύ used adverbially, 'heavily/deeply' modifying the groaning.
βασίλεια
queen; the queen; princess 16 times
βασίλεια, βασιλείης, βασίλειαν
nominative singular feminine noun; vocative singular feminine noun; genitive singular feminine noun
βασίλεια 'princess/queen', subject held back to line end for emphasis, epic word order
βασιλεύς
king; kings; of the king 40 times
βασιλῆα, βασιλῆος, βασιλῆες, βασιλεύς, βασιλήων, βασιλῆϊ, βασιλεὺς, βασιλῆας and 2 more
accusative singular masculine noun; genitive singular masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun
βασιλῆες — epic uncontracted plural of βασιλεύς, versus the later contracted βασιλεῖς.
βασιλεύω
to be king; shall be king; was king, ruled 8 times
βασίλευε, βασιλευέμεν, βασιλεύσει, βασίλευεν, βασιλεύοι, βασιλευέτω
imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active infinitive; future active indicative, 3rd singular verb
Epic infinitive ending -έμεν(αι) (βασιλευέμεν) instead of Attic -ειν, a marker of the older poetic dialect.
βέλος
shafts; arrows; arrow 14 times
βέλος, βελέεσσιν, βέλεσι, βέλεα
dative plural neuter noun; accusative singular neuter noun; nominative singular neuter noun
Epic dative plural βελέεσσιν, extended -εσσιν ending.
βέλτερος
better twice
βέλτερον, βέλτερόν
nominative singular neuter comparative adjective; nominative singular neuter adjective
Comparative βέλτερον used absolutely, 'it would be better' — Nausicaa's imagined gossip turns approving.
βένθος
into the deep; depths; the depths 5 times
βένθεα, βένθοσδε, βένθεσιν
accusative plural neuter noun; adverb; dative plural neuter noun
βένθοσδε — directional -δε suffix, 'to/into the deep,' Homeric motion-ending
βεβόλημαι
stricken once
βεβολημένος
βεβολημένος, perfect passive participle 'having been struck (as by a blow)' — grief hits like a wound.
βῆσσα
glades; glens; glens, valleys 4 times
βήσσῃσι, βήσσας, βῆσσαν
dative plural feminine noun; accusative plural feminine noun; accusative singular feminine noun
βητάρμων
dancers twice
βητάρμονες, βητάρμονας
vocative plural masculine noun; accusative plural masculine noun
βητάρμονες, vocative — rare word for professional/skilled dancers, addressed directly
βία
by force; violence; in strength 42 times
βίη, βίας, βίης, βίῃ, βίηφιν, βίην, βίηφι, βίηφί
dative plural feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun; accusative plural feminine noun
βίηφιν uses the old instrumental suffix -φι(ν), a relic Homeric case-form meaning 'by/with force.'
βίαιος
violent; violently; by force 3 times
βιαίως, βίαια
adverb; accusative plural neuter adjective
βίος
life 3 times
βίον
βίοτος
livelihood; life; wealth 33 times
βίοτον, βιότοιο, βίοτος, βίοτόν, βιότου
accusative singular masculine noun; genitive singular masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun
βίοτος 'means of life, substance' — the suitors' target
βιάζω
is forcing; you compel twice
βιάζεται, βιάζετε
present medio-passive indicative, 3rd singular verb; present active indicative, 2nd plural verb
present tense βιάζετε emphasizes the ongoing pressure the crew puts on Odysseus, who feels outnumbered.
βιάω
overwhelmed; do violence; will force 4 times
βιήσατο, βιόωνται, βιήσεται, βιόωντό
aorist middle indicative, 3rd singular verb; present medio-passive indicative, 3rd plural verb; future middle indicative, 3rd singular verb
βιβάω
striding once
βιβᾶσα
vivid present participle paired with imperfect φοίτα for repeated motion
βιβρώσκω
will be devoured; having fed twice
βεβρώσεται, βεβρωκὼς
future perfect indicative, 3rd singular verb; perfect active participle, nominative singular masculine
βεβρώσεται, future perfect passive of βιβρώσκω — rare tense stressing the completed state of ruin still to come.
βιός
bow; the bow; of the bow 10 times
βιὸν, βιὸς, βιόν, βιοῦ, βιοῖο
accusative singular masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun; genitive singular masculine noun
βιώσκομαι
gave life to once
ἐβιώσαο
ἐβιώσαο, aorist middle of βιώσκομαι, 'you brought me back to life' — Odysseus crediting Nausicaa as his savior.
βλάπτω
harmed; are blocking; might hinder 6 times
βλάπτουσι, βλάπτοι, βλάβεται, βλάψε, βλάπτει, ἔβλαψαν
present active indicative, 3rd plural verb; present active optative, 3rd singular verb; present middle indicative, 3rd singular verb
βλάπτω takes a genitive of separation (κελεύθου, 'from his way') — 'hinder someone from/of something,' unlike English 'block his way' with accusative.
βλέφαρον
eyelids; her eyelids; their eyelids 22 times
βλεφάροισι, βλεφάροισιν, βλεφάρων, βλέφαρ, βλεφάροιϊν
dative plural neuter noun; genitive plural neuter noun; accusative plural neuter noun
Dative plural βλεφάροισιν is the older -οισιν ending, common in epic.
βλώσκω
having come; has come, is far gone 3 times
μολόντες, μέμβλωκε, μολών
aorist active participle, nominative plural masculine; perfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist active participle, nominative singular masculine
βόθρος
pit; the pit; pits 6 times
βόθρον, βόθροισι, βόθρου
accusative singular masculine noun; dative plural masculine noun; genitive singular masculine noun
βόθρος 'pit/trench' — the washing-holes where clothes were trampled clean, a concrete daily-life detail.
βόσκω
grazing; breeds; graze 16 times
βόσκει, βοσκομένη, βόσκοντ, βόσκοι, βόσκειν, βοσκομένας, βοσκέσκονθ, βόσκουσι and 2 more
present active indicative, 3rd singular verb; present medio-passive participle, nominative singular feminine; present medio-passive indicative, 3rd plural verb
βόσκοντ(αι) middle 'feed themselves' — describes the Sun's sacred cattle grazing freely.
βοάω
shouting; shouted; you cried out 11 times
βοήσας, ἐβόησας, ἐβόησε, βοῶν, ἐβόησα
aorist active participle, nominative singular masculine; aorist active indicative, 2nd singular verb; aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb
here βοῶν is treated as the noun 'cattle' (genitive of βοῦς), despite the tagged lemma βοάω — context from translation makes the sense clear.
βοείη
oxhide; bullock-hide 4 times
βοείην, βοέην, βοέῃ
accusative singular feminine noun; dative singular feminine noun
βοεύς
oxhide ropes; ox-hide thongs twice
βοεῦσιν, βοεῦσι
βοεύς, leather rope made from ox-hide, used to haul the sails up.
βοή
in the war-cry; war-cry; cry 16 times
βοὴν, βοῆς, βοὴ
accusative singular feminine noun; genitive singular feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun
βοὴν ἀγαθός, formulaic Homeric epithet (accusative of respect) attached to Menelaus.
Βοηθοΐδης
son of Boethoos; son of Boethous twice
Βοηθοΐδη, Βοηθοΐδης
vocative singular masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun
patronymic naming pattern (-ίδης, 'son of'), common way Homer identifies minor figures.
βολή
glances; of missiles; with blows 3 times
βολαὶ, βολάων, βολῇσιν
nominative plural feminine noun; genitive plural feminine noun; dative plural feminine noun
Literally 'throws/casts' of the eyes — vivid Homeric term for a look or glance.
βομβέω
clattered; hummed 3 times
βόμβησεν, βόμβησαν, βόμβησε
aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist active indicative, 3rd plural verb
βόμβησε: an onomatopoeic verb for a hollow booming/clanging sound as the jug hits the floor.
Βορέας
the North Wind; North Wind; of the North Wind 13 times
Βορέης, Βορέῃ, Βορέαο, Βορέην, Βορέω
nominative singular masculine noun; genitive singular masculine noun; dative singular masculine noun
Βορέης (Boreas), the North Wind, here used by Athena to calm the sea and speed Odysseus onward.
βούβοτος
good for cattle once
βούβοτος
αἰγίβοτος/βούβοτος: compound adjectives 'goat-grazed'/'ox-grazed', vivid pastoral vocabulary
βούλομαι
I would wish; wished; you wish 19 times
βουλοίμην, βούλοντο, βούλομ, βούλεται, βούλεαι, ἐβόλοντο, βούλετο, ἐβούλετο and 2 more
present medio-passive optative, 1st singular verb; present medio-passive indicative, 1st singular verb; imperfect medio-passive indicative, 3rd singular verb
βούλομ(αι) here expresses preference: 'I'd rather X than Y,' picked up by ἢ in next line.
βοῦς
cattle; of cattle; oxen 84 times
βοῶν, βοῦς, βοῦν, βοὸς, βόας, βόες, βουσὶν, βουσὶ and 2 more
genitive plural noun; accusative plural masculine noun; genitive singular noun
genitive of source/comparison: 'a sound as of cattle'
βουγάιος
you braggart once
βουγάϊε
βουγάϊε, vocative insult roughly 'ox-sized lout', a rare, colorful term of abuse.
βουκόλος
cowherd; the cowherd; herdsman 12 times
βουκόλος, βουκόλον, βουκόλοι, βουκόλ, βουκόλε, βουκόλῳ
nominative singular masculine noun; accusative singular masculine noun; vocative singular masculine noun
vocative address; the head noun is elided, understood as a direct address to Philoetius
βουκολέω
herding cattle once
βουκολέων
present participle in distributive μὲν...δὲ pairing, 'one herding'
βουλεύω
to plot; was planning; pondered 17 times
βουλευσέμεν, ἐβούλευσας, βουλεύειν, βούλευον, βούλευε, βούλευσα, βουλεύσαντε, βουλεύσας and 3 more
future active infinitive; present active infinitive; aorist active indicative, 2nd singular verb
βουλευσέμεν, epic future infinitive ending in -έμεν (vs. Attic -ειν), common alternate form in Homer.
βουλή
counsel; plan; in counsel 40 times
βουλή, βουλήν, βουλῇ, βουλάς, βουλὰς, βουλὴν, βουλὴ, βουλῆς
accusative singular feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun; accusative plural feminine noun
διὰ ... βουλάς 'through the plans/counsels [of Zeus]' — the epic's recurring theme that Zeus's will drives events.
βουληφόρος
for counsel; counselors twice
βουληφόροι
nominative plural feminine adjective; nominative plural masculine adjective
βουληφόρος 'council-bearing', epic compound for the noble advisers who bring gifts.
βουλυτόνδε
toward unyoking time once
βουλυτόνδε
βουλυτόνδε: 'to ox-loosing' + directional -δε suffix, i.e. evening.
βράσσω
bellowed once
ἔβραχε
ἔβραχε: perfect with present sense, "cried out" — epic verb of loud noise, echoing l48.
βρίθω
weighing down; were laden; are laden 5 times
βρίσας, βρῖθον, βεβρίθασιν, βεβρίθει, βρίθῃσι
aorist active participle, nominative singular masculine; imperfect active indicative, 3rd plural verb; perfect active indicative, 3rd plural verb
perfect of βρίθω, 'are weighed down/heavy with'
βρότεος
human once
βροτέῃ
βροτέῃ: 'mortal' voice, marking the eagle's speech as uncanny/prophetic
βροντάω
thundered; you thundered 4 times
βρόντησε, ἐβρόντησεν, ἐβρόντησας
aorist active indicative, 3rd singular verb; aorist active indicative, 2nd singular verb
Zeus's thunderclap is the divine sign Odysseus asked for — answered instantly, underscoring the prayer's power.
βροτόομαι
bloodstained once
βεβροτωμένα
βροτόομαι, denominative from βρότος 'gore' — perfect passive stresses the armor still caked with old blood
βροτός
of mortals; mortals; mortal 71 times
βροτῶν, βροτοῖσιν, βροτὸς, βροτοῖσι, βροτοὶ, βροτὸν, βροτός, βροτῷ and 1 more
genitive plural masculine noun; dative plural masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun
βροτοῖσι, poetic word for 'mortals,' contrasted implicitly with the gods just named.
βροτολοιγός
man-destroying once
βροτολοιγῷ
βροτολοιγός, epithet of Ares — a compound formula ("destroyer of mortals") reused across the Iliad and Odyssey.
βρυχάομαι
roars; roared twice
βέβρυχεν, ἐβεβρύχει
perfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb; pluperfect active indicative, 3rd singular verb
βέβρυχεν, perfect of βρυχάομαι 'to roar/bellow', used with present force for the sea's ongoing din.
βρώμη
food 5 times
βρώμην, βρώμης
accusative singular feminine noun; genitive singular feminine noun
βρῶσις
food 9 times
βρῶσίν, βρῶσίς, βρῶσιν, βρωτὺν
accusative singular feminine noun; nominative singular feminine noun
βύκτης
blustering once
βυκτάων
βύκτης 'howling/roaring' — epic epithet for storm winds.
βύω
filled once
βεβυσμένον
perfect passive participle βεβυσμένον, 'stuffed/filled' — describes the basket's contents
βυσσοδομεύω
brooding; were brooding; brooding on 7 times
βυσσοδομεύων, βυσσοδόμευον
present active participle, nominative singular masculine; imperfect active indicative, 3rd plural verb
βυσσοδομεύω, vivid compound 'build deep down' — plotting secretly in one's heart
βωμός
altar; altars; pedestals 8 times
βωμόν, βωμοῖς, βωμῷ, βωμῶν, βωμός, βωμὸς, βωμὸν
accusative singular masculine noun; nominative singular masculine noun; dative plural masculine noun
βωμός here is a pedestal/base, not an altar—context (statues holding torches) shows the broader sense of the word.
βωστρέω
call upon once
βωστρεῖν
βωστρεῖν 'shout loudly to' — imperative infinitive urging Odysseus to invoke Crataeis for aid.
Seen once or twice
βάλανος
ilex-mast; acorn twice
βάραθρον
pit once
βάτος
brambles once
βαρύνω
weighed down once
βασίλειος
more kingly; royal twice
βασιλεία
of the queen once
βαστάζω
heaving; had lifted twice
βίβημι
striding once
βιόω
to live once
βιοτή
life once
βληχή
bleating once
βλωθρός
tall once
βόειος
ox; oxhide twice
βοάγριον
oxhide shields once
βοητύς
shouting once
βοτάνη
of grass once
βοτήρ
herdsmen once
Βοώτης
Boötes once
βραδύς
slow one; slow twice
βραχίων
arms once
βριθύς
heavy once
βρότος
gore once
βρόχος
noose; nooses twice
βροντή
thunder once
βύβλινος
made of papyrus once
βώτωρ
herdsmen twice
βῶλος
the clod, soil once
The particulars
- The words
- Every word of the text, parsed: its headword, its form and its meaning in the line. Source text: public domain (Homer, ancient; Greek per the Murray/Allen text via the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 3.0).
- Translation
- Public-domain Greek (Homer, ancient; text via the Perseus Digital Library). English translation © 2026 1732 Studios, LLC.
- Data
- JSON · A guide for agents