Homeric Greek 1732 Studios

Ancient Greek · Unit 5

Lessons XXI to XXV

Pharr I: Letters, Nouns, Verbs

98 lines

Lesson XXI: Middle and Passive Participles

Middle and passive participles

This lesson adds the participles of the middle and passive.

Present: λυόμενος, η, ον, loosing for oneself, or being loosed. Aorist middle: λῡσάμενος, η, ον, having loosed for oneself, or having been loosed.

Future: λῡσόμενος, η, ον, about to loose. Perfect: λελυμένος, η, ον, having loosed for oneself. The sentence decides between middle and passive.

The aorist passive has its own participle: λυθείς, λυθεῖσα, λυθέν, having been loosed. Its stem is λυθεντ-, like the stems of the active participles.

Deponent verbs use these participles with active meaning. ᾱ̓ραομένου, praying, is from ᾱ̓ρά-ομαι, pray. ἐποιχομένην, working at the loom, is another.

Endings and use

Except for the aorist passive, these participles have the endings of κᾱλός, ή, όν. The masculine and neuter are second declension. The feminine is first declension. The endings are not new.

A participle agrees with its noun in gender, number and case. In γέρων ἦλθε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν λῡσόμενος θύγατρα, λῡσόμενος is masculine singular because it describes the old man.

It states why he came: to ransom his daughter.

Learn the participles of λύω. For each one, give the masculine, feminine and neuter nominative, and the meaning.

The old man prays

In these lines the old man is afraid. He obeys the command and walks in silence along the shore of the loud-roaring sea.

Then he goes apart and prays to lord Apollo, whom lovely-haired Leto bore.

The prayer begins in the last line: hear me, god of the silver bow, who stand guard over Chryse.

Find κιὼν, going, in the third line. It is an active participle, masculine nominative singular, with the ending of λύων. It describes the old man, who prays as he goes.

  1. 1

    Thus spoke Agamemnon, and the old man, having feared, obeyed the stern word; and he went in silence along the shore of the loud-roaring sea. Then, going apart, the old man prayed fervently to lord Apollo, whom fair-haired Leto bore.

    ἈγαμέμνωνAgamemnon, king of Mycenae
    ὡςthus, so, in this way
    ἔφατο,φημί: speak, say, tell
    ὁthe; he, she, it; this, that
    δὲbut, and, for, so
    γέρωνold man
    δείσᾱςδείδω: fear, be afraid
    ἐπείθετοπείθω: persuade, win over, mislead
    μύθῳμῦθος: word, command, story
    κρατερῷ,κρατερός: strong, harsh, stern, mighty
    ἀκέωνsilent, quiet, being silent
    δ’δέ: but, and, for, so
    ἔβηβαίνω: come, go, walk
    παρὰbeside, by, near
    θῖναθίς: beach, shore, strand
    πολυφλοίσβοιοloud-roaring
    θαλάσσης,θάλασσα: sea
    ἔπειταthen, thereupon
    δὲbut, and, for, so
    κιὼνκίω: come, go, depart
    ἀπάνευθενἀπ-άνευθε(ν): apart, away
    ὁthe; he, she, it; this, that
    γεραιὸςold; old man
    ἠράετοἀρά-ομαι: pray, curse, invoke
    πολλὰπολλός: much, many, numerous
    ἄνακτιἄναξ: king, lord, protector
    Ἀπόλλωνι,Ἀπόλλων: Apollo
    τὸνὁ: the; he, she, it; this, that
    ἡύκομοςἡύ-κομος: fair-haired, well-tressed
    ΛητὼLeto, mother of Apollo
    ἔτεκεν.τίκτω: bear, produce, give birth to
  2. 2

    Lord Apollo heard the priest praying, for he loved him.

  3. 3

    The free-shooting god guards dear Chrysa.

  4. 4

    The wrath of Achilles having hurled down many souls of heroes to Hades, and having made their bodies a prey to dogs and a feast for birds, the will of Zeus was being fulfilled.

  5. 5

    making for oneself, being made; about to make for oneself, about to be made; having made for themselves; fighting.

  6. 6

    The old man came to the swift ships of the Achaeans to ransom his daughter.

  7. 7

    All the Achaeans will free the dear daughter of the old man, revering the son of Zeus, the free-shooting Apollo.

  8. 8

    Old age will come upon her, plying the loom in the house of Agamemnon and Clytaemnestra.

  9. 9

    Ἀγαμέμνων ὡς ἔφατο, ὁ δὲ γέρων δείσᾱς ἐπείθετο μύθῳ κρατερῷ.

    Thus spoke Agamemnon, and the old man obeyed the stern command, because he feared (use the aor. particip.).

  10. 10

    ἀκέοντες δ’ ἔβησαν παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης, ἔπειτα δὲ κίοντες ἀπάνευθεν ἠράοντο πολλὰ ἄνακτι Ἀπόλλωνι, τὸν ἡύκομος Λητὼ ἔτεκε Διί.

    They went in silence along the strand of the loud-roaring sea, and going apart they prayed much to (their) lord Apollo, whom fair-haired Leto bore to Zeus.

  11. 11

    Ἀπόλλων ἀργυρότοξος ἔκλυε Ἀχαιῶν ἀραομένων, οἱ γὰρ φίλοι ἦσαν θῡμῷ.

    Apollo of the silver bow heard the Greeks praying, for they were dear to (his) soul.

  12. 12

    πολλοὶ γεραιοὶ ἦλθον ἐξ Ἰλίου ἐπὶ στρατὸν Ἀχαιῶν λῡσόμενοι υἱοὺς φίλους.

    Many aged men came from Troy to the camp of the Achaeans to ransom (their) beloved sons.

  13. 13

    Ἀχαιοὶ λύσουσι δύο υἱοὺς ἱερῆος καὶ δέξονται ἀγλαὰ ἄποινα, ἁζόμενοι θεοὺς οἳ ἔχουσιν Ὀλύμπια δώματα.

    The Achaeans will free the two sons of the priest and accept the shining ransoms, because they reverence the gods who have Olympian homes.

  14. 14

    γῆρας ἔπεισι τὰς Πριάμοιο θυγατέρας ἐν οἴκοισι υἱῶν Ἀχαιῶν ἐποιχομένᾱς ἱστόν.

    Old age will come upon the daughters of Priam while they are plying the loom in the homes of the sons of the Achaeans.

  15. 15

    So he spoke, and the old man was afraid and obeyed his word;

  16. 16

    he went in silence along the shore of the loud-roaring sea.

  17. 17

    And going apart, the old man prayed fervently

  18. 18

    to lord Apollo, whom lovely-haired Leto bore:

  19. 19

    "Hear me, god of the silver bow, who stand guard over Chryse

λυθείς, masculine ·
N. V.λυθείς
G.λυθέντος
D.λυθέντι
A.λυθέντα
N. A. V.λυθέντε
G. D.λυθέντοιν
N. V.λυθέντες
G.λυθέντων
D.λυθέντεσι
A.λυθέντας
λυθεῖσα, feminine ·
N. V.λυθεῖσα
G.λυθείσης
D.λυθείσῃ
A.λυθεῖσαν
N. A. V.λυθείσᾱ
G. D.λυθείσῃν
N. V.λυθεῖσαι
G.λυθεισάων
D.λυθείσῃσι
A.λυθείσᾱς
λυθέν, neuter ·
N. V.λυθέν
G.λυθέντος
D.λυθέντι
A.λυθέν
N. A. V.λυθέντε
G. D.λυθέντοιν
N. V.λυθέντα
G.λυθέντων
D.λυθέντεσι
A.λυθέντα
§735. Declension of Participles

All middle and passive participles, except those of the first and second aorist passive, are declined like κᾱλός, ή, όν (721).
§736. All active participles (except the perfect, 744) and both first and second aorist passive participles have stems in -ντ. The masculine and neuter are of the third declension, the feminine of the first.
§737. The vocative of participles has the same form as the nominative.
§738. Participles with stems in οντ usually have the nominative singular masculine in -ων, as γέρων 693.
§739. But the present and second aorist of -μι verbs (διδούς, δούς), and all stems ending in αντ, εντ, υντ, add ς, lose ντ (613), and lengthen the preceding vowel (giving ους, ᾱς, εις, ῡς 601). The dative plural of these stems is similarly formed.
§740. Participles with stems in οντ, ending in -ων, ουσα, ον in the nominative singular:

λύων, ουσα, ον loosing, freeing (λυοντ-, λυοντι̯α-, λυοντ-), Singular
N. V.   λύων      λύουσα    λύον
G.      λύοντος   λυούσης   λύοντος
D.      λύοντι    λυούσῃ    λύοντι
A.      λύοντα    λύουσαν   λύον

λύων, ουσα, ον, Dual
N. A. V.   λύοντε     λυούσᾱ    λύοντε
G. D.      λυόντοιν   λυούσῃν   λυόντοιν
§741. Participles with stems in οντ, αντ, εντ, υντ, ending in s in the nominative singular masculine:

Present Participle: διδούς, οὖσα, όν giving (διδοντ-, διδοντι̯α-, διδοντ-), Singular
        Masc.      Fem.       Neut.
N. V.   διδούς     διδοῦσα    διδόν
G.      διδόντος   διδούσης   διδόντος
D.      διδόντι    διδούσῃ    διδόντι
A.      διδόντα    διδοῦσαν   διδόν

διδούς, οὖσα, όν, Dual
N. A. V.   διδόντε     διδοῦσᾱ    διδόντε
G. D.      διδόντοιν   διδούσῃν   διδόντοιν

διδούς, οὖσα, όν, Plural
N. V.   διδόντες                διδοῦσαι              διδόντα
G.      διδόντων                διδουσάων [έων, ὢν]   διδόντων
D.      διδόντεσ(σ)ι, διδοῦσι   διδούσῃσι, διδούσῃς   διδόντεσ(σ)ι, διδοῦσι
A.      διδόντας                διδούσᾱς              διδόντα

Aorist Participle: λύσᾱς, ᾱσα, αν having loosed (λῡσαντ-, λῡσαντι̯α-, λῡσαντ-), Singular
        Masc.      Fem.      Neut.
N. V.   λύσᾱς      λύσᾱσα    λῦσαν
G.      λύσαντος   λῡσάσης   λύσαντος
D.      λύσαντι    λῡσάσῃ    λύσαντι
A.      λύσαντα    λύσᾱσαν   λῦσαν

λύσᾱς, ᾱσα, αν, Dual
N. A. V.   λύσαντε     λῡσᾱ́σᾱ    λύσαντε
G. D.      λῡσάντοιν   λῡσάσῃν   λῡσάντοιν

λύσᾱς, ᾱσα, αν, Plural
N. V.   λύσαντες               λύσᾱσαι              λύσαντα
G.      λῡσάντων               λῡσᾱσάων [έων, ὢν]   λῡσάντων
D.      λῡσάντεσ(σ)ι, λύσᾱσι   λῡσάσῃσι, λῡσάσῃς    λῡσάντεσ(σ)ι, λύσᾱσι
A.      λύσαντας               λῡσάσᾱς              λύσαντα
§742. Aorist Passive Participle: λυθείς, εἶσα, έν (having been) loosed (λυθεντ-, λυθεντι̯α-, λυθεντ-), Singular
        Masc.      Fem.       Neut.
N. V.   λυθείς     λυθεῖσα    λυθέν
G.      λυθέντος   λυθείσης   λυθέντος
D.      λυθέντι    λυθείσῃ    λυθέντι
A.      λυθέντα    λυθεῖσαν   λυθέν

λυθείς, εἶσα, έν, Dual
N. A. V.   λυθέντε     λυθείσᾱ    λυθέντε
G. D.      λυθέντοιν   λυθείσῃν   λυθέντοιν

λυθείς, εἶσα, έν, Plural
N. V.   λυθέντες                λυθεῖσαι              λυθέντα
G.      λυθέντων                λυθεισάων [έων, ὢν]   λυθέντων
D.      λυθέντεσ(σ)ι, λυθεῖσι   λυθείσῃσι, λυθείσῃς   λυθέντεσ(σ)ι, λυθεῖσι
A.      λυθέντας                λυθείσᾱς              λυθέντα
§743. Second Aorist Active Participle: δύς, δῦσα, δύν having entered (δυντ-, δυντι̯α-, δυντ-), Singular
        Masc.    Fem.    Neut.
N. V.   δύς      δῦσα    δύν
G.      δύντος   δύσης   δύντος
D.      δύντι    δύσῃ    δύντι
A.      δύντα    δῦσαν   δύν

δύς, δῦσα, δύν, Dual
N. A. V.   δύντε     δῦσᾱ    δύντε
G. D.      δύντοιν   δύσῃν   δύντοιν

δύς, δῦσα, δύν, Plural
N. V.   δύντες             δῦσαι              δύντα
G.      δύντων             δῡσάων [έων, ὢν]   δύντων
D.      δύντεσ(σ)ι, δῦσι   δύσῃσι, δύσῃς      δύντεσ(σ)ι, δῦσι
A.      δύντας             δύσᾱς              δύντα
§744. Perfect Active Participles

Perfect active participles have stems in (κ)οτ. Those which have κ are called first perfects, those without κ second perfects.

λελυκώς, υἷα, ός having loosed (λελυκοτ-, λελυκυσι̯α-, λελυκοτ-), Singular
        Masc.       Fem.        Neut.
N. V.   λελυκώς     λελυκυῖα    λελυκός
G.      λελυκότος   λελυκυίης   λελυκότος
D.      λελυκότι    λελυκυίῃ    λελυκότι
A.      λελυκότα    λελυκυῖαν   λελυκός

λελυκώς, υἷα, ός, Dual
N. A. V.   λελυκότε     λελυκυίᾱ     λελυκότε
G. D.      λελυκότοιν   λελυκυίηιν   λελυκότοιν

λελυκώς, υἷα, ός, Plural
N. V.   λελυκότες                 λελυκυῖαι               λελυκόται
G.      λελυκότων                 λελυκυιάων [έων, ὢν]    λελυκότων
D.      λελυκότεσ(σ)ι, λελυκόσι   λελυκυίῃσι, λελυκυίης   λελυκότεσ(σ)ι, λελυκόσι
A.      λελυκότας                 λελυκυίᾱς               λελυκότα

εἰδώς, (ε)ἰδυῖα, εἰδός knowing (Ϝειδϝοτ-, Ϝ(ε)ιδϝυσι̯α-, Ϝειδϝοτ-), Singular
        Masc.     Fem.        Neut.
N. V.   εἰδώς     (ε)ἰδυῖα    εἰδός
G.      εἰδότος   (ε)ἰδυίης   εἰδότος
D.      εἰδότι    (ε)ἰδυίῃ    εἰδότι
A.      εἰδότα    (ε)ἰδυῖαν   εἰδός

εἰδώς, (ε)ἰδυῖα, εἰδός, Dual
N. A. V.   εἰδότε     (ε)ἰδυίᾱ     εἰδότε
G.         εἰδότοιν   (ε)ἰδυίηιν   εἰδότοιν

εἰδώς, (ε)ἰδυῖα, εἰδός, Plural
N. V.   εἰδότες               (ε)ἰδυῖαι               εἰδότα
G.      εἰδότων               (ε)ἰδυιάων [έων, ὢν]    εἰδότων
D.      εἰδότεσ(σ)ι, εἰδόσι   (ε)ἰδυίῃσι, (ε)ἰδυίης   εἰδότεσ(σ)ι, εἰδόσι
A.      εἰδότας               (ε)ἰδυίᾱς               εἰδότα

NOTE 1. λελυκώς, υἷα, ός does not occur in Homer, and there are very few first perfects in Homeric Greek. The forms of the first perfect participle, as given above are common in later Greek.

NOTE 2. Perfect participles are often declined with ω instead of ο throughout; and at times end in -ων, -ουσα, -ον and are inflected with the same endings as the present participle.
§745. Participles of contract verbs, 936–944 (usually left uncontracted) are declined in their contracted forms as follows:

τῑμῶν, οὖσα, ὦν (τῑμάων, άουσα, άον) honoring (τῑμαοντ-, τῑμαοντι̯α-, τῑμαοντ-), Singular
        Masc.      Fem.      Neut.
N. V.   τῑμῶν      τῑμῶσα    τῑμῶν
G.      τῑμῶντος   τῑμώσης   τῑμῶντος
D.      τῑμῶντι    τῑμώσῃ    τῑμῶντι
A.      τῑμῶντα    τῑμῶσαν   τῑμῶν

τῑμῶν, οὖσα, ὦν, Dual
N. A. V.   τῑμῶντε     τῑμώσᾱ    τῑμῶντε
G. D.      τῑμώντοιν   τῑμώσῃν   τῑμώντοιν

τῑμῶν, οὖσα, ὦν, Plural
N. V.   τῑμῶντες               τῑμῶσαι              τῑμῶντα
G.      τῑμώντων               τῑμωσάων [έων, ὢν]   τῑμώντων
D.      τῑμώντεσ(σ)ι, τῑμῶσι   τῑμώσῃσι, τῑμώσῃς    τῑμώντεσ(σ)ι, τῑμῶσι
A.      τῑμώντας               τῑμώσᾱς              τῑμώντα

ποιῶν, εὖσα, εὖν (έων, έουσα, έον) (ποιεοντ-, ποιεοντι̯α-, ποιεοντ-), Singular
        Masc.       Fem.       Neut.
N. V.   ποιῶν       ποιεῦσα    ποιεῦν
G.      ποιεῦντος   ποιεύσης   ποιεῦντος
D.      ποιεῦντι    ποιεύσῃ    ποιεῦντι
A.      ποιεῦντα    ποιεῦσαν   ποιεῦν

ποιῶν, εὖσα, εὖν, Dual
N. A. V.   ποιεῦντε     ποιεύσᾱ    ποιεῦντε
G. D.      ποιεύντοιν   ποιεύσῃν   ποιεύντοιν

ποιῶν, εὖσα, εὖν, Plural (concludes on ia/314, the page on which 746 begins)
N. V.   ποιεῦντες                ποιεῦσαι              ποιεῦντα
G.      ποιεύντων                ποιευσάων [έων, ὢν]   ποιεύντων
D.      ποιεύντεσ(σ)ι, ποιεῦσι   ποιεύσῃσι, ποιεύσῃς   ποιεύντεσ(σ)ι, ποιεῦσι
A.      ποιεῦντας                ποιεύσᾱς              ποιεῦντα
§746. The participles of -ω contract verbs (as χολόω anger) end in -ῶν, οὖσα, οὖν (as χολῶν, χολοῦσα, χολοῦν) in the nominative singular, and are quite regular in their declension, the genitive being χολοῦντος, χολούσης, χολοῦντος; the dative being χολοῦντι, χολούσῃ, χολοῦντι, etc.
§915. PARTICIPLE

PRES.        λυόμενος, η, ον      loosing (for) one’s self, being loosed.
FUT.         λῡσόμενος, η, ον     being about to loose (for) one’s self, being about to be loosed, desiring to loose, . . . etc.
AOR.         λῡσάμενος, η, ον     having loosed (for) one’s self, having been loosed
PERF.        λελυμένος, η, ον     having loosed (for) one’s self, having been loosed.
FUT. PERF.   λελῡσόμενος, η, ον   being about to have loosed (for) one’s self, being about to have been loosed
§921. PARTICIPLE

λυθείς, εἶσα, ἐν (742)   having been loosed
§909. PARTICIPLE

PRES.   λύων, ουσα, ον (740)       loosing
FUT.    λῡ́σων, σουσα, σον          (being) about to loose, desiring to loose
AOR.    λῡ́σᾱς, σᾱσα, σαν (741)     having loosed
PERF.   λελυκώς, κυῖα, κός (744)   having loosed
PERF. λελυκώς, κυῖα, κός (744): Not found in Homer; see note 3, 905.
ἔφατο
Speak, say, tell, from φημί
δείσᾱς
Fear, be afraid, from δείδω
ἀκέων
Silent, quiet, being silent
θῖνα
Beach, shore, strand, from θίς
πολυφλοίσβοιο
Loud-roaring
ἔπειτα
Then, thereupon
κιὼν
Come, go, depart, from κίω
ἀπάνευθεν
Apart, away, from ἀπ-άνευθε(ν)
γεραιὸς
Old
ἠράετο
Pray, curse, invoke, from ἀρά-ομαι
ἡύκομος
Fair-haired, well-tressed, from ἡύ-κομος
ἔτεκεν
Bear, produce, give birth to, from τίκτω
ἔκλυε
Hear, hearken to, from κλύω
ἀμφιβαίνει
Surround, go round, protect, from ἀμφι-βαίνω
ἀπάνευθε
Apart, away
ἠρᾶθ’
Pray, curse, invoke, from ἀράομαι
ἀργυρότοξ’
Of a silver bow, equipped with a silver bow, silver-bowed one. Apollo, from ἀργυρότοξος
ἀμφιβέβηκας
Surround, go round, protect, from ἀμφιβαίνω

Lesson XXII: The Perfect, Pluperfect, and Future Perfect of Verbs

The perfect middle and passive

This lesson gives the perfect and pluperfect in the middle and passive. It also adds the future perfect.

Perfect: λέλυμαι, λέλυσαι, λέλυται. I have loosed for myself, or I have been loosed. Plural: λελύμεθα, λέλυσθε, λέλυνται.

Compare the present middle: λύομαι, λύεται, λύονται. There, ο or ε stands between the stem and the ending. In the perfect the ending is added directly to the reduplicated stem: λέλυται.

The pluperfect, had loosed, adds ἐ in front, as in the active: ἐλελύμην, ἐλέλυτο, ἐλέλυντο.

The future perfect, and the rules of reduplication

The future perfect means I shall have loosed for myself, or I shall have been loosed. It has reduplication, the σ of the future, and middle endings: λελῡ́σομαι, λελῡ́σεται, λελῡ́σονται.

A verb that begins with one consonant repeats it with ε: δύω, δέδῡκα.

If the verb begins with φ, the copy is π: φύω, πέφυκα. If it begins with θ, the copy is τ: θνήσκω, τέθνηκα.

A verb that begins with a vowel makes it long, as the augment does: οἴχομαι, ᾤχωκα. A verb that begins with two consonants or with ρ usually adds only ε.

If the perfect begins with a consonant, the pluperfect puts ἐ before the reduplication: βέβηκα, I have gone, ἐβεβήκεα, I had gone. These tenses are rare in Homer.

The prayer continues

In these lines the old man's prayer continues. He calls Apollo Smintheus. He reminds the god of what he has done for him.

He says: if ever I roofed a pleasing temple for you, or burned the fat thighs of bulls and goats for you.

Then grant me this wish. Let the Danaans pay for my tears with your arrows.

Find σοῖσι βέλεσσιν, with your arrows. βέλος, a dart, is a third-declension neuter noun. Its dative plural has the double σ that other third-declension nouns have.

  1. 20

    Lord Apollo protects Chrysa and holy Cilla.

  2. 21

    Smintheus rules over dear Tenedos with might.

  3. 22

    They roofed a pleasing temple for Smintheus and burned the fat thigh-pieces of bulls and goats.

  4. 23

    If ever the lord fulfills the priest's desire, the Danaans will pay for the old man's tears with the god's darts.

  5. 24

    θεοὶ πάντες, οἳ Ὀλύμπια δώματα ἔχουσιν, ἀμφιβεβήκᾱσι Χρύσην Κίλλαν τε ζαθέην.

    All the gods who have Olympian homes protect very sacred Chrysa and Cilla.

  6. 25

    Ἀπόλλων Σμινθεὺς ἀνάξει ἶφι Τενέδου.

    Apollo Smintheus will rule Tenedos by his might.

  7. 26

    ἐρέψαμεν πολλοὺς νηοὺς χαρίεντας θεοῖσιν Ὀλυμπίοισι, κατεκήαμεν δὲ αὐτοῖσι πίονα μηρία ταύρων αἰγῶν τε.

    We roofed many pleasing temples to the Olympian gods and burned for them the fat thigh-pieces of bulls and goats.

  8. 27

    εἰ κραιαίνομεν βουλὴν θεοῦ, λύσει κακοὺς Δαναοὺς βέλεσσιν αὐτοῦ.

    If we accomplish the will of the god, he will destroy the wicked Danaans with his darts.

  9. 28

    Ἀγαμέμνων τίσει δάκρυα γέροντος.

    Agamemnon will atone for the tears of the old man.

  10. 29

    and holy Cilla, and rule Tenedos with your might,

  11. 30

    Smintheus, if ever I roofed a temple pleasing to you,

  12. 31

    or if ever I burned for you the fat thighs

  13. 32

    of bulls and goats, grant me this desire:

  14. 33

    let the Danaans pay for my tears with your arrows."

λύω · perfect indicative active
S. 1λέλυκαI have loosed
2λέλυκαςyou have loosed
3λέλυκεhe has loosed
Du. 2λελύκατονyou two have loosed
3λελύκατονthey two have loosed
Pl. 1λελύκαμενwe have loosed
2λελύκατεyou have loosed
3λελύκᾱσιthey have loosed
λύω · pluperfect indicative active
S. 1ἐλελύκηI had loosed
2ἐλελύκηςyou had loosed
3ἐλελύκειhe had loosed
Du. 2ἐλελύκετονyou two had loosed
3ἐλελυκέτηνthey two had loosed
Pl. 1ἐλελύκεμενwe had loosed
2ἐλελύκετεyou had loosed
3ἐλελύκεσανthey had loosed
λύω · perfect indicative middle
S. 1λέλυμαιI have loosed (for) myself, have been loosed
2λέλυσαιyou have loosed (for) yourself, have been loosed
3λέλυταιhe has loosed (for) himself, has been loosed
Du. 2λέλυσθονyou two have loosed (for) yourselves, have been loosed
3λέλυσθονthey two have loosed (for) themselves, have been loosed
Pl. 1λελύμεθαwe have loosed (for) ourselves, have been loosed
2λέλυσθεyou have loosed (for) yourselves, have been loosed
3λέλυνταιthey have loosed (for) themselves, have been loosed
λύω · pluperfect indicative middle
S. 1ἐλελύμηνI had loosed (for) myself, had been loosed
2ἐλέλυσοyou had loosed (for) yourself, had been loosed
3ἐλέλυτοhe had loosed (for) himself, had been loosed
Du. 2ἐλέλυσθονyou two had loosed (for) yourselves, had been loosed
3ἐλελύσθηνthey two had loosed (for) themselves, had been loosed
Pl. 1ἐλελύμεθαwe had loosed (for) ourselves, had been loosed
2ἐλέλυσθεyou had loosed (for) yourselves, had been loosed
3ἐλέλυντοthey had loosed (for) themselves, had been loosed
λύω · future perfect indicative middle
S. 1λελῡ́σομαιI shall have loosed (for) myself, shall have been loosed
2λελῡ́σεαιyou will have loosed (for) yourself, will have been loosed
3λελῡ́σεταιhe will have loosed (for) himself, will have been loosed
Du. 2λελῡ́σεσθονyou two will have loosed (for) yourselves, will have been loosed
3λελῡ́σεσθονthey two will have loosed (for) themselves, will have been loosed
Pl. 1λελῡσόμεθαwe will have loosed (for) ourselves, will have been loosed
2λελῡ́σεσθεyou will have loosed (for) yourselves, will have been loosed
3λελῡ́σονταιthey will have loosed (for) themselves, will have been loosed
§867. Reduplication. The perfect and pluperfect (with a few presents, second aorists and futures) in all modes have reduplication (doubling), which regularly denotes completed (sometimes intensified) action, a state, or a condition.
§868. Verbs beginning with a single consonant, except ρ, prefix this consonant, followed by the letter ε, as δύω, δέδῡκα go in. Often the stem stands in ablaut (593-5) relation to the stem of the present, as βαίνω (βαν-, βα-), βέβηκα come, go.
§869. Verbs beginning with a double consonant (518), with two consonants (except a mute followed by a liquid or nasal (509, 516)), those beginning with ρ, and some beginning with μ, instead of being reduplicated, simply add ε, the reduplication in these cases having the same form as the syllabic augment (830-1).
§870. A rough mute when reduplicated is changed to its cognate smooth (510-511), as φύω, πέφυκα; θνήσκω, τέθνηκα. This is de-aspiration (dissimilation) (619).
§871. In verbs beginning with a vowel or diphthong the reduplication has the form of the temporal (831) augment, as οἴχομαι, ᾤχωκα.
§872. Verbs beginning with a vowel which was formerly preceded by a lost consonant may take the reduplication in the form of the syllabic augment (830-1).
§873. Some verbs beginning with α, ε, or ο, followed by a consonant, reduplicate by repeating this vowel and the consonant and by lengthening the vowel, α and ε becoming η, and ο becoming ω, as ἔδω, ἐδηδώς; ἀραρίσκω, ἄρηρα; ὄλλῡμι, ὄλωλα. This is sometimes called “Attic reduplication.”
§874. A few verbs reduplicate the present by prefixing the first consonant of the stem followed by ι, as ἵστημι (σιστημι 603-4), τίθημι, δίδωμι, ἵημι (σισημι 603-4), πίμπλημι, γίγνομαι, γιγνώσκω, μιμνήσκω.
§875. When the reduplicated perfect begins with a consonant, the pluperfect prefixes the syllabic augment (ἐ) to the reduplication, as βέβηκα (perfect), ἐβεβήκεα (pluperfect).
§876. In other cases the pluperfect usually retains the temporal (831) augment of the perfect unchanged.
§877. Perfect. The first (regular) perfect adds -κα, the pluperfect -κε, to the reduplicated theme to form the singular. The dual and plural regularly have the endings of the second perfect, except at times in the third plural, which often has the endings of the first perfect.
§878. The stem is not affected by the addition of -κα, -κε, except that a final short vowel is usually lengthened (846).
§879. This form of the perfect (first or regular perfect) is found only in verbs with vowel stems and in only about twenty verbs in the whole of the Homeric poems.
§880. Second Perfect. The stem of the second (irregular) perfect is formed by adding -α to the reduplicated theme, and the pluperfect by adding -ε.
§881. The second perfects are the earlier and are much more common in the Homeric poems than are the first or κ-perfects. They are found regularly in verbs with consonantal and sometimes in those with vowel stems.
§882. The singular of the first and second perfect and pluperfect active regularly stands in ablaut (593-5) relation to the dual and plural, the dual and plural having the weak (disappearing) grade (594-5), while the singular has the strong grade.
§883. Both perfect and pluperfect are rare in Homer, the latter occurring in only about twenty verbs.
§884. The reduplication is occasionally omitted.
§885. Verbs compounded with a preposition (838) regularly have the augment and the reduplication between the preposition and the verb, as ἀμφιβέβηκα, προβέβουλα (ἀμφιβαίνω, προβούλομαι).
§886. When futures and second aorists are reduplicated it is usually after the manner of the reduplication of perfects; presents are reduplicated in various ways, but chiefly with ι (874).
§887. Middle Voice. The endings of the middle are different from those of the active. See the table, 821.
§888. Passive. The aorist passive has active endings; the other forms of the passive have middle endings.
§889. Since only the aorist of the passive differs in form from the middle, all the other tenses having the same forms in both voices, the context must determine in these other tenses which voice is intended.
But see 817, note, for two exceptions.
§890. The aorist middle, especially the athematic (797) aorist, is often used instead of the aorist passive. On the other hand the aorist passive is often used with a middle meaning.
§891. The perfect and pluperfect, middle and passive are athematic (797), i.e. the personal endings are attached directly to the reduplicated verb stem.
§892. The future perfect passive stem is formed by adding -σε/ο to the perfect middle (passive) stem. A vowel which precedes this -σε/ο is lengthened, even though it be short in the perfect middle.
§904. Conjugation of λῡ́-ω I loose
Observe that the υ of λύω is long only when followed by σ; otherwise it is short.

Active

Indicative

Present
        Greek    English
S. 1    λύω      I loose, am loosing, do loose
2       λύεις    you loose, are loosing, do loose
3       λύει     he looses, is loosing, does loose
Du. 2   λύετον   you two loose, etc.
3       λύετον   they two loose, etc.
Pl. 1   λύομεν   we loose, etc.
2       λύετε    you loose, etc.
3       λύουσι   they loose, etc.

Imperfect
        Greek     English
S. 1    ἔλυον     I was loosing; I loosed, did loose
2       ἔλυες     you were loosing, you loosed, did loose
3       ἔλυε      he was loosing, he loosed, did loose
Du. 2   ἐλύετον   you two were loosing, etc.
3       ἐλυέτην   they two were loosing, etc.
Pl. 1   ἐλύομεν   we were loosing, etc.
2       ἐλύετε    you were loosing, etc.
3       ἔλυον     they were loosing, etc.

Future
        Greek     English
S. 1    λῡ́σω      I shall (will) loose
2       λῡ́σεις    you will (shall) loose
3       λῡ́σει     he will (shall) loose
Du. 2   λῡ́σετον   you two will (shall) loose
3       λῡ́σετον   they two will (shall) loose
Pl. 1   λῡ́σομεν   we shall (will) loose
2       λῡ́σετε    you will (shall) loose
3       λῡ́σουσι   they will (shall) loose

Aorist
        Greek      English
S. 1    ἔλῡσα      I loosed, did loose
2       ἔλῡσας     you loosed, did loose
3       ἔλῡσε      he loosed, did loose
Du. 2   ἐλῡ́σατον   you two loosed, did loose
3       ἐλῡσάτην   they two loosed, did loose
Pl. 1   ἐλῡ́σαμεν   we loosed, did loose
2       ἐλῡ́σατε    you loosed, did loose
3       ἔλῡσαν     they loosed, did loose

Perfect
        Greek       English
S. 1    λέλυκα      I have loosed
2       λέλυκας     you have loosed
3       λέλυκε      he has loosed
Du. 2   λελύκατον   you two have loosed
3       λελύκατον   they two have loosed
Pl. 1   λελύκαμεν   we have loosed
2       λελύκατε    you have loosed
3       λελύκᾱσι    they have loosed
The perfect of λύω is not found in Homer, but these are the ordinary forms in Attic Greek. For the Homeric perfect system see 922-924, 966.

Pluperfect
        Greek             English
S. 1    ἐλελύκη (-εα)     I had loosed
2       ἐλελύκης (-εας)   you had loosed
3       ἐλελύκει (-εε)    he had loosed
Du. 2   ἐλελύκετον        you two had loosed
3       ἐλελυκέτην        they two had loosed
Pl. 1   ἐλελύκεμεν        we had loosed
2       ἐλελύκετε         you had loosed
3       ἐλελύκεσαν        they had loosed
§910. INDICATIVE

Middle Voice of λύω loose.

PRESENT
S. 1    λύομαι          I loose (for) myself, I am loosed
2       λύεαι [(λύῃ)]   you loose (for) yourself, are loosed
3       λύεται          he looses (for) himself, is loosed
Du. 2   λύεσθον         you two loose (for) yourselves, are loosed
3       λύεσθον         they two loose (for) themselves, are loosed
Pl. 1   λυόμε(σ)θα      we loose (for) ourselves, are loosed
2       λύεσθε          you loose (for) yourselves, are loosed
3       λύονται         they loose (for) themselves, are loosed
I loose (for) myself, I am loosed: The most common meanings are I loose for myself, I am loosed; I was loosing for myself, I was being loosed, etc. The context must determine which of these is most suitable. When it has an active meaning, I loose, it is with the strict implication of loosing one's own, or something in which the subject has an active personal interest, hence: to ransom, redeem, deliver, etc.

IMPERFECT
S. 1    ἐλυόμην           I was loosing (for) myself, was being loosed
2       ἐλύεο [(ἐλύεν)]   you were loosing (for) yourself, were being loosed
3       ἐλύετο            he was loosing (for) himself, was being loosed
Du. 2   ἐλύεσθον          you two were loosing (for) yourselves, were being loosed
3       ἐλυέσθην          they two were loosing (for) themselves, were being loosed
Pl. 1   ἐλυόμε(σ)θα       we were loosing (for) ourselves, were being loosed
2       ἐλύεσθε           you were loosing (for) yourselves, were being loosed
3       ἐλύοντο           they were loosing (for) themselves, were being loosed
I was loosing (for) myself, was being loosed: Less common, athematic (797-798) 2d aorist forms, 863; 865, 2.

FUTURE
S. 1    λῡ́σομαι           I shall loose (for) myself, shall be loosed
2       λῡ́σεαι [(λῡ́σῃ)]   you will loose (for) yourself, will be loosed
3       λῡ́σεται           he will loose (for) himself, will be loosed
Du. 2   λῡ́σεσθον          you two will loose (for) yourselves, will be loosed
3       λῡ́σεσθον          they two will loose (for) themselves, will be loosed
Pl. 1   λῡσόμε(σ)θα       we will loose (for) ourselves, will be loosed
2       λῡ́σεσθε           you will loose (for) yourselves, will be loosed
3       λῡ́σονται          they will loose (for) themselves, will be loosed

AORIST
S. 1    ἐλῡσάμην           I loosed (for) myself, was loosed               ἐλύμην
2       ἐλῡ́σαο [(ἐλῡ́σω)]   you loosed (for) yourself, were loosed          ἔλυ(σ)ο
3       ἐλῡ́σατο            he loosed (for) himself, was loosed             ἔλυτο
Du. 2   ἐλῡ́σασθον          you two loosed (for) yourselves, were loosed    ἔλυσθον
3       ἐλῡσάσθην          they two loosed (for) themselves, were loosed   ἐλύσθην
Pl. 1   ἐλῡσάμε(σ)θα       we loosed (for) ourselves, were loosed          ἐλύμε(σ)θα
2       ἐλῡ́σασθε           you loosed (for) yourselves, were loosed        ἔλυσθε
3       ἐλῡ́σαντο           they loosed (for) themselves, were loosed       ἔλυντο

PERFECT
S. 1    λέλυμαι               I have loosed (for) myself, have been loosed
2       λέλυσαι               you have loosed (for) yourself, have been loosed
3       λέλυται               he has loosed (for) himself, has been loosed
Du. 2   λέλυσθον              you two have loosed (for) yourselves, have been loosed
3       λέλυσθον              they two have loosed (for) themselves, have been loosed
Pl. 1   λελύμε(σ)θα           we have loosed (for) ourselves, have been loosed
2       λέλυσθε               you have loosed (for) yourselves, have been loosed
3       λέλυνται (λελύαται)   they have loosed (for) themselves, have been loosed
λέλυνται (λελύαται): -αται, -ατο (= -νται, -ντο, 597-598) regularly in verbs with consonantal stems, and stems ending in ι; sometimes in stems ending in other vowels.

PLUPERFECT
S. 1    ἐλελύμην              I had loosed (for) myself, had been loosed
2       ἐλέλυσο               you had loosed (for) yourself, had been loosed
3       ἐλέλυτο               he had loosed (for) himself, had been loosed
Du. 2   ἐλέλυσθον             you two had loosed (for) yourselves, had been loosed
3       ἐλελύσθην             they two had loosed (for) themselves, had been loosed
Pl. 1   ἐλελύμε(σ)θα          we had loosed (for) ourselves, had been loosed
2       ἐλέλυσθε              you had loosed (for) yourselves, had been loosed
3       ἐλέλυντο (ἐλελύατο)   they had loosed (for) themselves, had been loosed

FUTURE PERFECT
S. 1    λελῡ́σομαι         I shall have loosed (for) myself, shall have been loosed
2       λελῡ́σεαι [(-ῃ)]   you will have loosed (for) yourself, will have been loosed
3       λελῡ́σεται         he will have loosed (for) himself, will have been loosed
Du. 2   λελῡ́σεσθον        you two will have loosed (for) yourselves, will have been loosed
3       λελῡ́σεσθον        they two will have loosed (for) themselves, will have been loosed
Pl. 1   λελῡσόμε(σ)θα     we will have loosed (for) ourselves, will have been loosed
2       λελῡ́σεσθε         you will have loosed (for) yourselves, will have been loosed
3       λελῡ́σονται        they will have loosed (for) themselves, will have been loosed
ζαθέην
Very sacred, holy, sacrosanct, from ζά-θεος
Σμινθεὺς
Smintheus, mouse god, an epithet of Apollo
ἶφι
Mightily, with might: an old instrumental of ϝίς, might
Τενέδου
Tenedos, an island near Troy, from Τένεδος
ἔρεψαν
Roof, cover, build, from ἐρέφ-ω*
νηὸν
Temple, shrine, from νηός
χαρίεντα
Pleasing, grateful, graceful, from χαρίεις
πίονα
Fat, rich, from πίων
εἴ
If, whether
ποτε
Ever, at any time, once
κραιαίνει
Accomplish, perform, fulfill, from κραιαίνω
ἐέλδωρ
Desire, wish
τίσουσι
Requite, atone for, pay the penalty, from τίνω
δάκρυα
Tear, from δάκρυ
βέλεσσιν
Dart, arrow, shaft, from βέλος
ἔρεψα
Roofed, from ἐρέφω
κατὰ
Down, down over, down through
μηρί’
Thighs, from μηρία
ἠδ’
And, also, from ἠδέ
τόδε
This, that, from ὅδε
κρήηνον
Grant, from κραίνω

Lesson XXIII: The Subjunctive Mode of Verbs

Mood and the subjunctive

The verb forms so far state a fact or ask about one: he looses, he loosed. This form is the indicative.

The form that shows how a verb is meant is its mood. Pharr calls it a mode. This lesson adds a second mood, the subjunctive.

Pharr translates it I may loose, you may loose, he may loose. He adds: also let me loose, and other meanings that are learned from use.

This lesson's sentences show the range: Let me not find you. Let us carry bows. The arrows may clang. So that you may return. Translate with whatever English fits.

The subjunctive has only the present, aorist and perfect. The perfect is rare. The tenses do not show time. The present shows continuing action. The aorist shows only that the action occurs.

The long vowel of the subjunctive

Between the stem and the ending there is usually a short vowel, ο or ε. This is the thematic vowel. In λύομεν it is ο. In λύετε it is ε.

In the subjunctive this vowel is long: ο becomes ω, and ε becomes η. λύομεν becomes λύωμεν. λύετε becomes λύητε. λύομαι becomes λύωμαι. λύεται becomes λύηται.

In a few forms the vowel stays short. Pharr lists them.

Present active: λύω, λύῃς, λύῃ. Plural: λύωμεν, λύητε, λύωσι. The aorist has the same endings after σ: λῡ́σω, λῡ́σῃς, λῡ́σῃ, λῡ́σωμεν, λῡ́σητε, λῡ́σωσι.

Some of these look like forms you know. λύω can mean I loose or I may loose. λῡ́σω can mean I shall loose or I may loose. The sentence shows which.

Apollo comes down

In these lines the prayer is answered. Phoebus Apollo hears the old man. He comes down from the peaks of Olympus, enraged at heart.

His bow and his covered quiver are on his shoulders. The arrows clash on the shoulders of the raging god as he moves. He comes like night.

Find χωομένοιο, of the raging god. It is a middle participle of χώ-ομαι, be angry. It is genitive. Its ending is the longer second-declension ending that Pharr lists beside the usual one.

  1. 34

    The old man prays fervently, and Phoebus Apollo hears him.

  2. 35

    The gods hear the Achaeans as they pray.

  3. 36

    All the gods go down from the peaks of Olympus, angry at heart.

  4. 37

    They have bows on their shoulders, and quivers covered at both ends.

  5. 38

    The arrows clang upon the shoulders of Apollo as he rages.

  6. 39

    The angry god went down from the peaks of Olympus, like night.

  7. 40

    Let me not find you beside the hollow ships, lest the sceptre not avail you.

  8. 41

    Let not the old man, having angered Agamemnon, return more safely.

  9. 42

    So that you may return more safely.

  10. 43

    Ἀχαιῶν εὐχομένων ἔκλυε Ἀπόλλων.

    Apollo heard the Achaeans as they prayed.

  11. 44

    θεοὶ ἔβαν κατὰ καρήνων Ὀλύμπου.

    The gods went down from the summits of Olympus.

  12. 45

    φέρωμεν τόξα καὶ φαρέτρᾱς ὤμοισιν.

    Let us carry bows and quivers on (our) shoulders.

  13. 46

    κλάζωσιν οἰστοὶ ἐπ’ ὤμων θεῶν χωομένων.

    The arrows may clang upon the shoulders of the angry gods.

  14. 47

    μὴ παῖδας κοίλῃσιν παρὰ νηυσὶν κιχήομεν.

    May we not come upon the children, beside the hollow ships.

  15. 48

    ὅτε κε πόλιν Πριάμοιο ἐκπέρσωσι, νέωνται σαώτεροι οἴκαδε.

    They may return more safely home when they have sacked utterly the city of Priam.

  16. 49

    So he spoke in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard him,

  17. 50

    and came down from the peaks of Olympus, enraged at heart,

  18. 51

    with his bow upon his shoulders, and his covered quiver;

  19. 52

    the arrows clashed upon the shoulders of the raging god

  20. 53

    as he moved; and on he came, like night.

λύω · present subjunctive active
S. 1λύωI may loose
2λύῃςyou may loose
3λύῃhe may loose
Du. 2λύητονyou two may loose
3λύητονthey two may loose
Pl. 1λύωμενwe may loose
2λύητεyou may loose
3λύωσιthey may loose
λύω · aorist subjunctive active
S. 1λῡ́σωI may loose
2λῡ́σῃςyou may loose
3λῡ́σῃhe may loose
Du. 2λῡ́σητονyou two may loose
3λῡ́σητονthey two may loose
Pl. 1λῡ́σωμενwe may loose
2λῡ́σητεyou may loose
3λῡ́σωσιthey may loose
λύω · perfect subjunctive active
S. 1λελύκωI may loose
2λελύκηςyou may loose
3λελύκηhe may loose
Du. 2λελύκητονyou two may loose
3λελύκητονthey two may loose
Pl. 1λελύκωμενwe may loose
2λελύκητεyou may loose
3λελύκωσιthey may loose
λύω · present subjunctive middle
S. 1λύωμαιI may loose (for) myself, may be loosed
2λύηαιyou may loose (for) yourself, may be loosed
3λύηταιhe may loose (for) himself, may be loosed
Du. 2λύησθονyou two may loose (for) yourselves, may be loosed
3λύησθονthey two may loose (for) themselves, may be loosed
Pl. 1λυώμεθαwe may loose (for) ourselves, may be loosed
2λύησθεyou may loose (for) yourselves, may be loosed
3λύωνταιthey may loose (for) themselves, may be loosed
λύω · aorist subjunctive middle
S. 1λῡ́σωμαιI may loose (for) myself, be loosed
2λῡ́σηαιyou may loose (for) yourself, be loosed
3λῡ́σηταιhe may loose (for) himself, be loosed
Du. 2λῡ́σησθονyou may loose (for) yourselves, be loosed
3λῡ́σησθονthey two may loose (for) themselves, be loosed
Pl. 1λῡσώμεθαwe may loose (for) ourselves, be loosed
2λῡ́σησθεyou may loose (for) yourselves, be loosed
3λῡ́σωνταιthey may loose (for) themselves, be loosed
§816. The tenses of the indicative are distinguished as:

1) principal (primary) tenses: the present, future, perfect, and future perfect.
2) past (secondary) tenses: imperfect, aorist, and pluperfect (historical tenses).
§905. The Subjunctive

Present
        Greek      English
S. 1    λύω(μι)    I may loose
2       λύῃς(θα)   you may loose
3       λύῃ(σι)    he may loose
Du. 2   λύητον     you two may loose
3       λύητον     they two may loose
Pl. 1   λύωμεν     we may loose
2       λύητε      you may loose
3       λύωσι      they may loose
See footnote 1 on next page.
I may loose: See footnote 2 on next page.

Aorist
        Greek       English
S. 1    λῡ́σω(μι)    I may loose
2       λῡ́σῃς(θα)   you may loose
3       λῡ́σῃ(σι)    he may loose
Du. 2   λῡ́σητον     you two may loose
3       λῡ́σητον     they two may loose
Pl. 1   λῡ́σωμεν     we may loose
2       λῡ́σητε      you may loose
3       λῡ́σωσι      they may loose
Also let me loose, and various other meanings which must be learned from the syntax.
I may loose: Not found in Homer; see note 1, p. 283. The subjunct. and optat. perfect are very rare in Homer.

Perfect
        Greek         English
S. 1    λελύκω        I may loose
2       λελύκης(θα)   you may loose
3       λελύκη(σι)    he may loose
Du. 2   λελύκητον     you two may loose
3       λελύκητον     they two may loose
Pl. 1   λελύκωμεν     we may loose
2       λελύκητε      you may loose
3       λελύκωσι      they may loose
The different tenses of the subjunctive, optative, imperative, and infinitive, do not of themselves represent distinctions of time. The present of these tenses denotes continuance of action, as λύειν (pres. infin.) to be loosing (at any time).

The aorist denotes simply the occurrence of an action, its time being exactly the same as the present, as λῦσαι (aor. inf.) to loose (at any time).

The perfect denotes completion of an action, as λελυκέμεν (perf. inf.) to have loosed (at any time).
§911. SUBJUNCTIVE

PRESENT
S. 1    λύωμαι          I may loose (for) myself, may be loosed
2       λύηαι [(λύῃ)]   you may loose (for) yourself, may be loosed
3       λύηται          he may loose (for) himself, may be loosed
Du. 2   λύησθον         you two may loose (for) yourselves, may be loosed
3       λύησθον         they two may loose (for) themselves, may be loosed
Pl. 1   λυώμε(σ)θα      we may loose (for) ourselves, may be loosed
2       λύησθε          you may loose (for) yourselves, may be loosed
3       λύωνται         they may loose (for) themselves, may be loosed
I may loose (for) myself, may be loosed: Read the note at the end of 905.

AORIST
S. 1    λῡ́σωμαι           I may loose (for) myself, be loosed
2       λῡ́σηαι [(λῡ́σῃ)]   you may loose (for) yourself, be loosed
3       λῡ́σηται           he may loose (for) himself, be loosed
Du. 2   λῡ́σησθον          you may loose (for) yourselves, be loosed
3       λῡ́σησθον          they two may loose (for) themselves, be loosed
Pl. 1   λῡσώμε(σ)θα       we may loose (for) ourselves, be loosed
2       λῡ́σησθε           you may loose (for) yourselves, be loosed
3       λῡ́σωνται          they may loose (for) themselves, be loosed

PERFECT
S. 1    λελυμένος ἔω      I may loose (for) myself, may be loosed
2       λελυμένος ἔῃς     you may loose (for) yourself, may be loosed
3       λελυμένος ἔῃ      he may loose (for) himself, be loosed
Du. 2   λελυμένω ἔητον    you two may loose (for) yourselves), may be loosed
3       λελυμένω ἔητον    they two may loose (for) themselves, may be loosed
Pl. 1   λελυμένοι ἔωμεν   we may loose (for) ourselves, may be loosed
2       λελυμένοι ἔητε    you may loose (for) yourselves, may be loosed
3       λελυμένοι ἔωσι    they may loose (for) themselves, may be loosed
§796. The thematic verbs are so named because in a majority of their forms the personal ending (819-821) is preceded by ο/ε (ο before μ or ν, or in the optative mode, otherwise ε), which is called the thematic vowel. Thus, λυο/ε (λύω) is called the theme, to which the personal endings (819-821) are attached.
§799. In the subjunctive these thematic vowels, ο/ε, are regularly long, being ω/η respectively.
§800. In some cases the thematic vowel is short in the subjunctive, particularly in the dual and plural of the present and second aorist of -μι verbs, the first aorist and second perfect of all verbs, and the second aorist of all verbs having athematic second aorists in the indicative.
εὔχεται
Pray, boast, exult, from εὔχ-ομαι
Φοῖβος
Phoebus, = clear, bright
καρήνων
Peak, summit, headland, from κάρηνον
χωόμενοι
Be angry, be enraged, from χώ-ομαι
κῆρ
Heart, soul
τόξα
Bow, from τόξον
φαρέτρᾱς
Quiver, from φαρέτρη
ἀμφηρεφέας
Covered at both ends, from ἀμφ-ηρεφής
ὤμοισιν
Shoulder, from ὦμος
κλάζουσιν
CLANG, roar, shriek, from κλάζω
οἰστοὶ
Arrow, shaft, from οἰστός
ἐοικὼς
Be like, resemble, be fitting, from εἴκω
νυκτὶ
Night, darkness, from νύξ
εὐχόμενος
Pray, talk loud, boast, from εὔχομαι
χωόμενος
Be angry, be enraged, be irritated, from χώομαι
ἀμφηρεφέα
Covered at both ends, from ἀμφηρεφής
φαρέτρην
Quiver, from φαρέτρα
κινηθέντος
Moved, from κινέω
ἐοικώς
Like, from ἔοικα

Lesson XXIV: Imperative Verbs, Active

The imperative

The imperative is the mood for commands: loose, go, hear me.

The first line of the Iliad has one: μῆνιν ἄειδε, θεά, sing the wrath, goddess. ἄειδε is an imperative.

A command to one person: λύε, loose. To more than one: λύετε, as in κατακαίετε πυρὰς νεκύων, burn the pyres of dead bodies. λύετε is also the indicative, you loose. The sentence shows which.

Greek also has commands about someone else, like English let him and let them: λυέτω, let him loose. λυόντων, let them loose.

μή in front makes a command negative: μή μ’ ἐρέθιζε, do not provoke me.

Present and aorist imperatives

As with the infinitive, the tense of an imperative shows the kind of action, not time.

The present imperative means keep doing it: λύε, keep loosing. The aorist imperative means do it, with no sense of continuing: λῦσον, loose.

Present: λύε, λυέτω, λύετε, λυόντων. Aorist: λῦσον, λῡσάτω, λῡ́σατε, λῡσάντων. The aorist forms have σ.

In σοὺς ἐχεπευκέας ἰοὺς βάλλε, shoot your sharp arrows, the present βάλλε is for a continuing action.

Apollo shoots

In these lines Apollo sits apart from the ships and shoots an arrow. A terrible twang comes from his silver bow.

First he shoots the mules and the swift dogs. Then he aims his sharp arrow at the men and strikes them. The pyres of the dead burn thick and without end.

These lines have no commands. Read the first fifty-two lines again and find the commands. Two are ἄειδε, sing, in the first line, and μή μ’ ἐρέθιζε, do not provoke me.

  1. 54

    Having gone down from the peaks of Olympus, Apollo sat apart from the ships of the Achaeans and shot an arrow into the army.

  2. 55

    The clang of the silver bow was terrible.

  3. 56

    Apollo has a silver bow.

  4. 57

    The free-shooter attacks first the mules and the swift dogs.

  5. 58

    The mules and the swift dogs are destroyed.

  6. 59

    The god, aiming sharp darts at them, the Achaeans, kept shooting.

  7. 60

    Many pyres of the dead were burning, thick and crowded.

  8. 61

    The wrath of Peleus' son Achilles, sing, goddess.

  9. 62

    Go now, do not provoke me, if you would go home the safer.

  10. 63

    Hear me, god of the silver bow.

  11. 64

    Grant me this desire.

  12. 65

    θεοὶ ὅτε κατὰ καρήνων Ὀλύμπου ἔβαν, ἕζοντο ἀπάνευθε νηῶν καὶ ἧκαν ἰοὺς μετ’ αὐτούς, κλαγγὴ δὲ δεινὴ ἀργυρέων βιῶν ἐγένετο.

    When the gods had come down from the summits of Olympus, they seated themselves apart from the ships and shot arrows among them, and a terrible clang arose from their silver bows.

  13. 66

    θεοὶ πάντες ἔχουσι τόξα καὶ φαρέτρᾱς ἀμφηρεφέας.

    All the gods have bows and quivers covered at both ends.

  14. 67

    βιὸς Ἀπόλλωνος ἀργύρεός ἐστιν.

    The bow of Apollo is of silver.

  15. 68

    πρῶτον ἐποιχώμεθα οὐρῆας καὶ κύνας ἀργούς, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα ἐχεπευκέα βέλεα αὐτοῖσιν ἐφιέντες βάλλωμεν.

    First let us attack the mules and swift dogs, and then hurling biting darts upon themselves, let us shoot (them).

  16. 69

    πολλαὶ πυραὶ καιέσθων.

    Let many funeral pyres be burned.

  17. 70

    κατακαίετε πυρὰς νεκύων.

    Burn the pyres of dead bodies.

  18. 71

    σοὺς ἐχεπευκέας ἰοὺς βάλλε, καὶ ἕζεο.

    Shoot your sharp arrows, and sit down.

  19. 72

    ἐποίχεσθε στρατὸν Ἀχαιῶν· ἠτίμασαν γὰρ Χρύσην, φίλον ἱερῆα κρατεροῦ θεοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος.

    Attack the army of the Achaeans, for they insulted Chryses, the beloved priest of the great god, Apollo.

  20. 73

    Then he sat down apart from the ships and let fly an arrow;

  21. 74

    terrible was the twang that rose from his silver bow.

  22. 75

    First he went after the mules and the swift dogs,

  23. 76

    but then, aiming his sharp arrow at the men themselves,

  24. 77

    he struck; and the pyres of the dead burned thick without ceasing.

λύω · present imperative active
S. 2λύεloose (continue to loose)
3λυέτωlet him loose (continue to loose)
Du. 2λύετονloose (you two), continue to loose
3λυέτωνlet those (two) loose (continue to loose)
Pl. 2λύετεloose (continue to loose)
3λυόντωνlet them loose (continue to loose)
λύω · aorist imperative active
S. 2λῦσονloose
3λῡσάτωlet him loose
Du. 2λῡ́σατονloose (you two)
3λῡσάτωνlet those (two) loose.
Pl. 2λῡ́σατεloose
3λῡσάντωνlet them loose
§907. IMPERATIVE

PRESENT
S. 2    λύε       loose (continue to loose)
3       λυέτω     let him loose (continue to loose)
Du. 2   λύετον    loose (you two), continue to loose
3       λυέτων    let those (two) loose (continue to loose)
Pl. 2   λύετε     loose (continue to loose)
3       λυόντων   let them loose (continue to loose)
Read the notes at the end of 905.

AORIST
S. 2    λῦσον      loose
3       λῡσάτω     let him loose
Du. 2   λῡ́σατον    loose (you two)
3       λῡσάτων    let those (two) loose.
Pl. 2   λῡ́σατε     loose
3       λῡσάντων   let them loose
ἕζετ’
SIT down, seat, from ἕζομαι
ἧκεν
Throw, hurl, shoot, from ἵ-ημι
ἰὸν
Arrow, from ἰός
μετὰ
Adv., and prep. with gen., dat
ἀργυρέου
Silver, of silver, from ἀργύρεος
βιοῦ
Bow, from βιός
οὐρῆας
Mule, from οὐρεύς
ἐφῑεὶς
Shoot against, hurl upon, send upon, from ἐφ-ί-ημι
ἐχεπευκέα
Sharp, biting, from ἐχε-πευκής
ἔβαλλεν
Throw, hurl, shoot, from βάλλω
νεκύων
Dead body, corpse, from νέκυς
θαμειαί
Thick, crowded, from θαμέες
ἀργυρότοξε
Of a silver bow, silver-bowed one, epithet of Apollo, from ἀργυρό-τοξος
ἕηκεν
Throw, hurl, shoot, from ἵημι
γένετ’
Become, be, arise, from γίγνομαι
αὐτὰρ
But, moreover, from ἀτάρ
ἐχεπευκὲς
Sharp, biting, from ἐχεπευκής
ἐφιεὶς
Shoot against, hurl upon, send upon, from ἐφίημι
αἰεὶ
Without ceasing, from ἀεί

Lesson XXV: Middle and Passive Imperative of Verbs

Middle and passive imperatives

This lesson gives the imperative in the middle and passive.

Present: λύεο, loose for yourself, or be loosed. λυέσθω, let him loose for himself, or let him be loosed. λύεσθε, to more than one.

Aorist: λῦσαι, λῡσάσθω, λῡ́σασθε. Perfect: λέλυσο, λελύσθω, λέλυσθε. λύεσθε is also the present indicative middle and passive. The sentence shows which.

Deponent verbs use these forms with active meaning. οἴχομαι, go, gives οἴχεο ἀνὰ στρατὸν Ἀχαιῶν, go up through the camp of the Achaeans, and οἰχέσθω, let him go.

The aorist middle imperative λῦσαι has the same spelling as the aorist active infinitive. The sentence shows which: a command, or the verb with to.

The assembly

In these lines the arrows of the god go among the army for nine days. On the tenth day Achilles calls the people to an assembly.

The goddess Hera put this in his heart. She cared for the Danaans, because she saw them dying.

When they are all assembled, swift-footed Achilles stands up among them and speaks.

Find καλέσσατο, called. It is not a command. It is the aorist middle of καλέω, a plain statement of the past. The middle fits: Achilles called the people for himself.

  1. 78

    Go up through the camp of the Achaeans.

  2. 79

    Let him go up through the army.

  3. 80

    The shafts of the god Apollo go up through the army of the Achaeans.

  4. 81

    Swift-footed Achilles called the people of the Achaeans to the assembly.

  5. 82

    The white-armed goddess Hera put the plan in Achilles' heart.

  6. 83

    Hera cared for the Danaans, because she watched them dying.

  7. 84

    The Achaeans were gathered, and became assembled together.

  8. 85

    Swift-footed Achilles rose up among the Achaeans, and spoke.

  9. 86

    ἐννῆμαρ κῆλα πολλὰ βάλλομεν ἀνὰ στρατὸν ἐϋκνημίδων Ἀχαιῶν.

    Nine days we shoot many arrows up through the camp of the well-greaved Achaeans.

  10. 87

    τίς ἐκαλέσατο τὸν λαὸν κεῖνον ἀγορήνδε;

    Who summoned those people to the assembly?

  11. 88

    πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς πάντας τούσδε τοὺς Ἀχαιοὺς ἐκαλέσατο ἀγορήνδε, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐπὶ φρεσὶν ἐκήδετο.

    The swift-footed Achilles called all these Achaeans to the assembly, because he was grieved for them in (his) heart.

  12. 89

    ὁρόωμεν πολλοὺς Ἀχαιῶν θνήσκοντας, καὶ κηδόμεθα αὐτῶν.

    We see many of the Achaeans dying, and we are grieved for them.

  13. 90

    τίθημι κᾱλὴν βουλὴν Πηληιάδῃ ἐπὶ φρεσίν.

    I suggest a noble plan to the son of Peleus in (his) heart.

  14. 91

    ἠγερόμεθα καὶ ἐγενόμεθα ὁμηγερέες παρὰ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν Ἀχαιῶν.

    We were assembled and became gathered together beside the swift ships of the Achaeans.

  15. 92

    ἀνίσταμαι καὶ μετάφημι τοῖσδε Δαναοῖσιν, οἳ ὁμηγερέες εἰσίν.

    I arise and address these Danaans, who are gathered together.

  16. 93

    For nine days the shafts of the god went among the army,

  17. 94

    but on the tenth Achilles called the people to assembly;

  18. 95

    for the white-armed goddess Hera set it in his heart;

  19. 96

    for she cared for the Danaans, seeing them die.

  20. 97

    Now when they had gathered and were all assembled,

  21. 98

    swift-footed Achilles rose among them and spoke:

λύω · present imperative middle
S. 2λύεοloose (for) yourself, be loosed
3λυέσθωlet him loose (for) himself, let him be loosed
Du. 2λύεσθονloose (for) your two selves, be loosed
3λυέσθωνlet those two loose (for) themselves, let them be loosed
Pl. 2λύεσθεloose (for) yourselves, be loosed
3λυέσθωνlet them loose (for) themselves, let them be loosed
λύω · aorist imperative middle
S. 2λῦσαιloose (for) yourself, be loosed
3λῡσάσθωlet him loose (for) himself, let him be loosed
Du. 2λῡ́σασθονloose (for) your two selves, be loosed
3λῡσάσθωνlet these two loose (for) themselves, let them be loosed
Pl. 2λῡ́σασθεloose (for) yourselves, be loosed
3λῡσάσθωνlet them loose (for) themselves, let them be loosed
λύω · perfect imperative middle
S. 2λέλυσοloose (for) yourself, be loosed
3λελύσθωlet him loose (for) himself, let him be loosed
Du. 2λέλυσθονloose (for) yourselves, be loosed
3λελύσθωνlet them loose (for) themselves, let them be loosed
Pl. 2λέλυσθεloose (for) yourselves, be loosed
3λελύσθωνlet them loose (for) themselves, let them be loosed
§913. IMPERATIVE

PRESENT
S. 2    λύεο [(λύεν)]   loose (for) yourself, be loosed
3       λυέσθω          let him loose (for) himself, let him be loosed
Du. 2   λύεσθον         loose (for) your two selves, be loosed
3       λυέσθων         let those two loose (for) themselves, let them be loosed
Pl. 2   λύεσθε          loose (for) yourselves, be loosed
3       λυέσθων         let them loose (for) themselves, let them be loosed
Read the note on 905.

AORIST
S. 2    λῦσαι      loose (for) yourself, be loosed
3       λῡσάσθω    let him loose (for) himself, let him be loosed
Du. 2   λῡ́σασθον   loose (for) your two selves, be loosed
3       λῡσάσθων   let these two loose (for) themselves, let them be loosed
Pl. 2   λῡ́σασθε    loose (for) yourselves, be loosed
3       λῡσάσθων   let them loose (for) themselves, let them be loosed

PERFECT
S. 2    λέλυσο     loose (for) yourself, be loosed
3       λελύσθω    let him loose (for) himself, let him be loosed
Du. 2   λέλυσθον   loose (for) yourselves, be loosed
3       λελύσθων   let them loose (for) themselves, let them be loosed
Pl. 2   λέλυσθε    loose (for) yourselves, be loosed
3       λελύσθων   let them loose (for) themselves, let them be loosed
οἴχεο
Come, go, depart, from οἴχομαι
κῆλα
Arrow, shaft, dart, from κῆλον
ἐκαλέσατο
Call, summon, convoke, from καλέω
λευκώλενος
White-armed, from λευκ-ώλενος
Ἥρη
Hera, consort of Zeus and queen of the gods
φρεσὶν
Mind, heart, wits, from φρήν
ἐκήδετο
Grieve, distress, hurt, from κήδω
ὅτι
That, because, from ὅτ(τ)ι
ὡράετο
See, behold, look, from ὁράω
ἠγέροντο
Collect, assemble, gather, from ἀγείρω
ἐγένοντο
Become, be, arise, from γί-γνομαι
ὁμηγερέες
Collected, assembled, gathered together, from ὁμη-γερής
ἀνέστη
Stand up, arise, from ἀν-ί-στημι
μετέφη
Speak among, address, converse with, from μετά-φημι
ἐννῆμαρ
Nine days
δεκάτῃ
Tenth, from δέκατος
ἀγορήνδε
To assembly, from ἀγορά
ἐπεὶ
When, since, for
οὖν
Therefore, hence, now
ἀνιστάμενος
Stand up, set up, raise, from ἀνίστημι

The particulars

The course
Clyde Pharr, Homeric Greek: A Book for Beginners, Boston, 1920. Public domain. The teaching pages, the English on reveal, the word glosses and the keys to the English-to-Greek exercises are ours.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The app
The course on your phone, with the drills, your place kept and the audio offline.
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Data
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Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.