The Homer Reader The Iliad & Odyssey · Greek and English

ἀλκή

alke

strength

Appears 19 times across Homer's epics.

Frequency by work

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Dictionary (LSJ)

ἀλκή, ἡ, (cf. ἀλέξω) A. strength as displayed in action, prowess, courage, poet. word (also in Hdt., Th., and later Prose, Ti.Locr. 103b, Arist. EN 1115b4, Pol. 1338a20, etc.), in Hom. joined with σθένος Il. 17.212, Od. 22.237; with μένος Il. 9.706; with ἠνορέη Od. 24.509; ἐπιειμένοι ἀλκήν Il. 8.262; φρεσὶν εἱμένος ἀλκήν 20.381; δύεσθαι ἀλκήν 9.231:—later, χερὸς ἀλκᾷ Pi. O. 10(11).100; θηρία ἐς ἀλκὴν ἄλκιμα Hdt. 3.110: generally, force, might, συνῆψαν ἀλκήν E. Supp. 683; κατʼ ἀλκήν, opp. κατὰ σύνεσιν, Arr. Tact. 12.11: in pl., feats of strength, bold deeds, Pi. N. 7.12, B. 10.126, E. Rh. 933, Hierocl.p.33.61A. II. strength to avert danger, defence, help, Διὸς ἀ. Il. 15.490, cf.8.140; οὐδέ τις ἀ. Od. 12.120, 22.305; ποῦ τις ἀ.; A. Pr. 546; ἀ. βελέων S. Ph. 1151; δορός E. Ph. 1098: also ὰ. τινος defence or aid against thing, Hes. Op. 201, Pi. N. 7.96, S. OT 218; ἀλκὴν ποιεῖσθαι give aid, OC459; ἀ. τιθέναι make a defence, ib. 1524; ἐς or πρὸς ἀ. τρέπεσθαι turn and resist, stand on oneʼs guard, Hdt. 2.45, 3.78, Th. 2.84; στρέψας πρὸς ἀ. E. Andr. 1149; ἐς ἀ. ἐλθεῖν Id. Ph. 421; ἀλκῆς μεμνῆσθαι Hdt. 9.70; ἐν οἷς ἐστιν ἀ. where they can defend themselves, Arist. ENl.c. III. battle, fight, A. Th. 498,569, 878 codd., E. Med. 264.
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