Words of the Odyssey 1732 Studios

β

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.'

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.

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.

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
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.