Herbert Weir Smyth [
n.d.],
A Greek Grammar for Colleges; Machine readable text [
info] [
word count] [
Smyth].
1693περί
περί around (on all sides), about; cp. πέριξ round about. Lat. per in permagnus. περί is wider than ἀμφί: cp. X. Vect. 1.7 οὐ πεοίρρυτος οὖσα ὥσπερ νῆσος . . . ἀμφιθάλαττος γάρ ἐστι it (Attica) is not, like an island, surrounded by the sea . . . for it has the sea on two sides. On περί post-positive, see cross1665.
1. περί with the Genitive
a. Local (poetic): περὶ τρόπιος βεβαώς riding on (astride) the keel ε 130.
b. Other relations: about, concerning (Lat. de), the subject about which an act or thought centres: περὶ πατρίδος μαχούμενοι
fighting for their country
T. 6.69 (cp. ὑπέρ), δείσα_ς περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ
fearing for his son
X. C. 1.4.22, λέγειν περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης
to speak about peace
T. 5.55; τὰ περί τινος instead of τὰ περί τινα is used in the neighbourhood of a verb of saying or thinking (which takes περί with gen.): τὰ περὶ τῆς ἀρετῆς
the relations of virtue
P. Pr. 360e. Superiority (cp. cross1402): περίεσσι γυναικῶν εἶδος
thou dost surpass women in beauty
ς 248, περὶ παντὸς ποιούμενοι regarding as (more than everything) all-important T. 2.11 (cp. cross1373).
2. περί with the Dative
a. Local: about: of arms, dress, etc., in prose: στρεπτοὶ περὶ τοῖς τραχήλοις
collars about their necks
X. A. 1.5.8, ἃ περὶ τοῖς σώμασιν ἔχουσιν the clothes about their persons I. ep. 9. 10 (only case in the orators), περὶ δουρί A 303.
b. Other relations (usually poetic): External cause: δείσαντες περὶ ταῖς ναυσίν
afraid for their ships
T. 7.53 (with verbs of fearing, περί with the gen. is fear of or fear for). Inner impulse: περὶ τάρβει
from fear
A. Pers. 694.
3. περί with the Accusative
a. Local: of position: ἀπέστειλαν ναῦς περὶ Πελοπόννησον
they despatched ships round about Peloponnese
T. 2.23, ᾤκουν περὶ πᾶσαν τὴν Σικελία_ν they settled all round Sicily 6. 2; of persons: οἱ περὶ Ἡρἁ_κλειτον
the followers of Heraclitus
P. Crat. 440c.
b. Indefinite statement of time and number: περὶ ὄρθρον
about dawn
T. 6.101, περὶ ἑβδομήκοντα about seventy 1. 54.
c. Other relations: Occupation: οἱ περὶ τὴν μουσικὴν ὄντες
those who are engaged in liberal pursuits
I. 9.4; connected with, of general relation (with reference to): οἱ νόμοι οἱ περὶ τοὺς γάμους
the laws about marriage
P. Cr. 50d, περὶ θεοὺς ἀσεβέστατοι
most impious in regard to the gods
X. H. 2.3.53, τὰ περὶ τὰ_ς ναῦς
naval affairs
T. 1.13. Verbs of action (except verbs of
-- 384 -- striving) prefer περί with accus., verbs of perception, emotion, knowing, prefer περί with gen. But the cases often shift.
4. περί in Composition
Around, about (περιέχειν surround), beyond, over (περιεῖναι excel; and περιορᾶν look beyond, overlook, suffer), (remaining) over (περιγίγνεσθαι remain over, result, and excel), exceedingly (περιχαρής very glad).
Herbert Weir Smyth [
n.d.],
A Greek Grammar for Colleges; Machine readable text [
info] [
word count] [
Smyth].
