δακρύειν paraphrased as στάζειν δάκρυα

Semantic Range, Lexicography, and other approaches to word meaning - in general, or for particular words.
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Stephen Hughes
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Joined: February 26th, 2013, 7:12 am

δακρύειν paraphrased as στάζειν δάκρυα

Post by Stephen Hughes »

In paraphrasing δακρύειν "weep", it seems that in terms of degree; στάζειν δάκρυα (that is a palatal ζ) "let tears fall in drops", then λείβειν δάκρυα (cf. epic εἴβειν without the initial λ) "let tears flow", ἐκχεῖσθαι δάκρυα "with tears gushing out" make a sort of a set. It also seems that leaving the eyes could also be (ἐκ)βαλεῖν δάκρυα without necessarily stressing that it was much or not.

Has anyone noticed what emotions or situations these synonyms are used in?

[The close synonym κλαίειν "to weep" involves noise (as well as tears). (L&N 25.138)]
Γελᾷ δ' ὁ μωρός, κἄν τι μὴ γέλοιον ᾖ
(Menander, Γνῶμαι μονόστιχοι 108)
Mark Lightman
Posts: 300
Joined: May 6th, 2011, 6:30 pm

Re: δακρύειν paraphrased as στάζειν δάκρυα

Post by Mark Lightman »

χαίροις, φίλε Στέφανε!
Stephen Hughes wrote:Has anyone noticed what emotions or situations these synonyms are used in?
στάζει μὲν ὁ πόνος...
A. Ag. 179-80: στάζει δ᾽ ἔν θ᾽ ὕπνῳ πρὸ καρδίας μνησιπήμων πόνος.
...στάσει δ' ὁ Χριστός.
Psalm 71:6: καὶ καταβήσεται ὡς ὑετὸς ἐπὶ πόκον καὶ ὡσεὶ σταγόνες στάζουσαι ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν.
From the PGNT (Periphrastic Greek New Testament:)
John 11:35 (PGNT:) δάκρυα ἔστασεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς.
Luke 22:44 (PGNT:) καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ ἱδρὼς αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ θρόμβοι αἵματος, στάζοντες ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν.
Rev 21:4 (PGNT:) καὶ ἐξαλείψει Θεὸς πᾶν δάκρυον στάζον ἀπὸ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ πόνος οὐκέτι ἔσται ἐσταγμένος, οὐδὲ ὁ θάνατος: τὰ γὰρ πρῶτα ἀπῆλθον.
γένοιτο οὖν ἡ χαρά σου ἀσταγής!

Φώσφορος Μᾶρκος.
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