LOGOI

The corpus record

μάχαιρα

machaira · ἡ

large knife

Generated live from the audited corpus — every figure on this page is a database query, not prose from memory.

Where it lives

  • Jeremias 50 · 18.04/10k
  • Ezechiel 36 · 12.46/10k
  • Odae 4 · 9.84/10k
  • Isaias 22 · 8.37/10k
  • Hebrews 3 · 5.97/10k
  • Regnorum II 8 · 4.95/10k
  • Judices (cod. Al.) 7 · 4.79/10k
  • Josue (cod. Vat.) 6 · 4.51/10k
  • Proverbia 5 · 4.5/10k
  • Lamentationes 1 · 4.29/10k
  • Ephesians 1 · 4.15/10k
  • Revelation 4 · 4.04/10k

Densest 12 of 50 attested works shown, by occurrences per 10,000 attested tokens.

What it meant — LSJ

large knife, dirk, carving-knife, sacrificial knife

large knife or dirk, Il. 11.844, 18.597, 19.252; μ. ἥ οἱ πὰρ ξίφεος μέγα κουλεὸν αἰὲν ἄωρτο 3.271; carving-knife, Pi. O. 1.49, Hdt. 2.61, Ar. Eq. 489, Pl. R. 353a, etc.; κοπίδες μ. E. Cyc. 242; sacrificial knife, Ar. Pax 948, Pl.Com. 91, Michel 832.52 (Samos, iv B. C.):—ἡ Δελφικὴ μ. a knife adapted to various purposes, Arist. Pol. 1252b2, cf. Hsch. s.v. Δελφικὴ μ.; prov., of greedy persons, because Delphian sacrificers claimed a share for the knife, App.Prov. 1.94.

2 short sword, dagger, sabre, jus gladii, sabre

as a weapon, short sword, dagger, Pi. N. 4.59, Hdt. 6.75, 7.225, Lys. 13.87, etc.; an assassinʼs weapon, Antipho 5.69; used by jugglers, Pl. Euthd. 294e (pl.), etc.; later, sabre, opp. the straight sword (ξίφος), X. Eq. 12.11, cf. HG 3.3.7, Cyr. 1.2.13, Ev.Matt. 26.52, etc.; οἱ ἐπὶ τῆς μ., of a bodyguard, Arr. Epict. 1.30.7; but, ἐπὶ μ. τασσόμενοι possessing power of life and death (jus gladii), Cat.Cod.Astr. 8(4).173; μ. ἱππική cavalry sabre, IG 11(2).161 B 99 (Delos, iii B. C.).

3 shears, scissors, blade

μ. κουρίδες, shears or scissors, Cratin. 37; κεκαρμένος μοιχὸν μιᾷ μ., i.e. with one blade, Ar. Ach. 849, cf. Poll. 2.32 (where διπλῇ is f.l.), Hsch. s.v. μιᾷ μαχαίρᾳ; μ. κουρικαί Plu. Dio 9.

4

metaph., διὰ μαχαιρῶν καὶ πυρός Zen. 3.19, cf. Posidipp. 1.10; μ. τοῦ πνεύματος Ep.Eph. 6.17, cf. LXX Is. 49.2.

II

name of a precious stone, Arist. Mir. 847a5, Ps.-Plu. Fluv. 10.5.

III

part of the liver, Ruf. Onom. 180.

In the wild

6 of 276 attestations shown. Ask for more.

Where it came from

  • Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Brill 2010) Treated in Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Brill 2010) s.v. μάχαιρα (scan p. 966; entry #3965).
  • Chantraine, Dictionnaire etymologique de la langue grecque Treated in Chantraine, Dictionnaire etymologique de la langue grecque s.v. μάχαιρα (scan p. 690; entry #5122).
  • Frisk, Griechisches etymologisches Worterbuch Treated in Frisk, Griechisches etymologisches Worterbuch s.v. μάχαιρα (scan pp. 1158-1159; entry #3769).

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