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Definition 2024


μελας

μέλας

See also: μελάς and Μέλας

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Adjective

μέλᾱς (mélās) m (feminine μέλαινᾰ, neuter μέλᾰν); first/third declension

  1. dark in color; sometimes so dark as to lack color, black
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Odyssey 5.262
      ἐν δέ οἱ ἀσκὸν ἔθηκε θεᾱ̀ μέλανος (ϝ)οἴνοιο
      On [the raft] the goddess put a skin of dark wine.
  2. (figuratively) evil, black, dark
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 2.834
      τὼ δέ οἱ οὔ τι πειθέσθην· κῆρες γὰρ ἄγον μέλανος θανάτοιο
      But the two did not listen at all, for the fates of black death were leading them on.
  3. (figuratively) dark, obscure
  4. (of the voice) indistinct
  5. (medicine) causing black secretions
    • 460 BCE – 370 BCE, Hippocrates, περὶ νούσων 2.73

Inflection

Derived terms

Synonyms

  • κελαινός (kelainós)
  • μελάγχιμος (melánkhimos)

Descendants

See also

References