The Homer Reader The Iliad & Odyssey · Greek and English

μειλίχιος

meilichios

gentle, soothing

Appears 28 times across Homer's epics.

Frequency by work

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Dictionary (LSJ)

μειλίχιος, α, ον, also ος, ον Plu. 2.370d, cf. Hsch.:—A. gentle, soothing, Hom. mostly of speech, μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι Il. 12.267, al.; μ. μῦθος Od. 6.148, cf. B. 10.90: without Subst., προσαυδᾶν μειλιχίοισι with gentle words, Il. 4.256, 6.214; οἱ δέ τʼ ἐς αὐτὸν τερπόμενοι λεύσσουσιν—ὁ δʼ ἀσφαλέως ἀγορεύει—αἰδοῖ μειλιχίῃ Od. 8.172; θεὸν ὣς ἱλάσκονται αἰδοῖ μειλιχίῃ Hes. Th. 92. Adv. -ίως A.R. 2.467, etc.: neut. as Adv., μειλίχιον μυκήσατο Mosch. 2.97. II. later of persons, mild, gracious, Ζεὺς M. the protector of those who invoked him with propitiatory offerings, at Athens, IG 12.866 (written Μιλίχιος), Th. 1.126, X. An. 7.8.4; at Orchomenus in Boeotia, IG 7.3169 (written Μιλίχιος BCH 50.422 (Thespiae)); in Argolis, Paus. 2.20.1, etc.; of other divinities, as Dionysus, Plu. 2.994a, etc.; Κύπρις AP 5.225 (Paul. Sil.): Cret., Theraean Μηλίχιος GDI 5046 (Hierapytna), al., IG 12(3).406, 1316; early Ion. Μειλίχιος written Μελ- ib.12(5).727 (Andros); Arc. written Μελίχιος ib.5(2).90 (Tegea, perh. iv B. C.). III. μειλίχια (sc. ἱερά) propitiatory offerings, Plu. 2.417c; so perh. μ. ποτά S. OC 159 (lyr., but expld. by Sch. as referring to honey mixed in the drink-offerings).
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