Strong G3173μέγας
great
- Transliteration
- megas
- Pronunciation
- meg'-as
- Morphology
- Greek Adjective
Definition
Detailed definition
μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα,
[in LXX chiefly for גָּדוֹל, also for מַרְבֶּה,רַב (incl. μείζων), רֹב (μέγιστος);]
great;
1. of external form, bodily size, measure, extent: λίθος, Mat.2:60; δράκων, Rev.12:3; ἰχθῦς, Jhn.21:11; πόλις, Rev.11:8; μάχαιρα, Rev.6:4, al.
2. Of intensity and degree: δύναμις, Act.4:33; φόβος, Mrk.4:41; ἀγάπη, Jhn.15:13; ἄνεμος, 'ib. 6:18; κραυγή, Act.23:9; φῶς, Mat.4:16; πυρετός, Luk.4:38; θλίψις, Mat.24:21.
3. Of rank;
__(a) of persons: θεός (MM, xvi), Tit.2:13; Ἄρτεμις, Act.19:27; compar. (see infr.), Mat.18:1 (cf. Dalman, Words, 113f.); neut. for masc. (Bl., §32, 1), Mat.12:6;
__(b) of things: ἁμαρτία, Jhn.19:11; μυστήριον, Eph.5:32; = μεγίστη (see infr., and cf. Field, Notes, 16f.), Mat.22:36; compar. for superl. (M, Pr., 78), 1Co.13:13.
4.
__(a) Compar., μείζων: Mat.11:11 23:17, al.; neut. pl., μείζονα, contr. μείζω, Jhn.1:51; double compar., μειζότερος (M, Pr., 236; Bl., §11, 4), III Jo 4;
__(b) superl, μέγιστος (Deiss., BS, 365), 2Pe.1:4.
(AS)
[in LXX chiefly for גָּדוֹל, also for מַרְבֶּה,רַב (incl. μείζων), רֹב (μέγιστος);]
great;
1. of external form, bodily size, measure, extent: λίθος, Mat.2:60; δράκων, Rev.12:3; ἰχθῦς, Jhn.21:11; πόλις, Rev.11:8; μάχαιρα, Rev.6:4, al.
2. Of intensity and degree: δύναμις, Act.4:33; φόβος, Mrk.4:41; ἀγάπη, Jhn.15:13; ἄνεμος, 'ib. 6:18; κραυγή, Act.23:9; φῶς, Mat.4:16; πυρετός, Luk.4:38; θλίψις, Mat.24:21.
3. Of rank;
__(a) of persons: θεός (MM, xvi), Tit.2:13; Ἄρτεμις, Act.19:27; compar. (see infr.), Mat.18:1 (cf. Dalman, Words, 113f.); neut. for masc. (Bl., §32, 1), Mat.12:6;
__(b) of things: ἁμαρτία, Jhn.19:11; μυστήριον, Eph.5:32; = μεγίστη (see infr., and cf. Field, Notes, 16f.), Mat.22:36; compar. for superl. (M, Pr., 78), 1Co.13:13.
4.
__(a) Compar., μείζων: Mat.11:11 23:17, al.; neut. pl., μείζονα, contr. μείζω, Jhn.1:51; double compar., μειζότερος (M, Pr., 236; Bl., §11, 4), III Jo 4;
__(b) superl, μέγιστος (Deiss., BS, 365), 2Pe.1:4.
(AS)
In the Bible
Strong G3173 appears in 229 verses of the KJV.
Translated in the KJV by
- great167
- loud33
- greatest8
- greater5
- thing4
- high2
- large2
- more2
- be1
- elder1
- exceed1
- exceedingly1
First verses
- Matthew 2:10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
- Matthew 4:16The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
- Matthew 5:19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 5:35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
- Matthew 7:27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
- Matthew 8:24And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
- Matthew 8:26And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
- Matthew 11:11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
- Matthew 12:6But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
- Matthew 13:32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
- Matthew 15:28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
- Matthew 18:1At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
- Matthew 18:4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 20:25But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
- Matthew 20:26But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
- Matthew 20:31And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
- Matthew 22:36Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
- Matthew 22:38This is the first and great commandment.
- Matthew 23:11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
- Matthew 23:17Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
Occurrences by book
Related words
Word family
Detailed Greek dictionary
μέγᾰς, μεγάλη [ᾰ], μέγα [ᾰ],
genitive μεγάλου, ης, ου, dative μεγάλῳ, ῃ, ῳ, accusative μέγᾰν, μεγάλην, μέγα [ᾰ]; dual μεγάλω, α, w; plural μεγάλοι, μεγάλαι, μεγάλα, etc.: the stem μεγάλο- is never used in singular nominative and accusative masculine and neuter, and only once in vocative masculine,
A ὦ μεγάλε Ζεῦ [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Septem contra Thebas” 822 (_anapaest meter_).)]
A.I big, of bodily size: frequently of stature, εἶδος.. μ. ἦν ὁράασθαι [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 18.4; κεῖτο μ. μεγαλωστί 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 16.776; ἠΰς τε μ. τε 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 9. 508)]; φῶτα μέγαν καὶ καλόν[Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 513; καλή τε μεγάλη τε 15.418; κάρτα μεγάλη καὶ εὐειδής 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.1)]; φύσιν τίν᾽ εἶχε φράζ; Answ. μέγας [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 742.)]
A.I.b full-grown, of age as shown by stature, νῦν δ᾽ ὅτε δὴ μ. εἰμί [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 2.314; μήτε μέγαν μήτ᾽ οὖν νεαρῶν τινα 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 358 (_anapaest meter_))]; later, elder of two persons of the same name, Wilcken [Refs 3rd c.BC+ (“Chr.” 305 (3rd c.BC))]; Σκιπίων ὁ μ. [Refs 2nd c.BC+ (2nd c.BC: Polybius Historicus 18.35.9.)]
A.I.c of animals, μ. ἵπποι, βοῦς, σῦς, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.839, 18.559, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 19.439; αἰετός 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “I.” 6(5).50.)]
A.I.2 generally, vast, high, οὐρανός, ὄρος, πύργος, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.497, 16.297, 6.386)]; wide, πέλαγος, λαῖτμα θαλάσσης, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 3.179, 5.174)]; long, ἠϊών, αἰγιαλός, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 12.31, 2.210: sometimes opposed to ὀλίγος, κῦμα οὔτε μέγ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ὀ. 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 10.94)]; but usually opposed to μικρός or σμικρός, πρὸς ἑαυτὸ ἕκαστον καὶ μ. καὶ σμικρόν [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Anaxagoras Philosophus 3; τὸ ἄπειρον ἐκ μεγάλου καὶ μικροῦ 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Metaphysica” 987b26, etc.)]
A.II of quality or degree, great, mighty, frequently epithet of gods, ὁ μ. Ζεύς [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Supplices” 1052 (Lyric poetry), etc.)]; μεγάλα θεά, of Demeter and Persephone, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Coloneus” 683 (Lyric poetry))]; θεοὶ μεγάλοι, of the Cabiri, [Refs (“IG” 12(8).71 (from Imbros), etc.)]; Μήτηρ μ., of Cybele, [Refs 3rd c.BC+ (“SIG” 1014.83 (Erythrae, 3rd c.BC), 1138.3 (Delos, 2nd c.BC))]; Μήτηρ θεῶν μ. [Refs (“OGI” 540.6 (from Pessinus), etc.)]; Ἴσιδος μ. μητρὸς θεῶν [Refs 2nd c.BC+ (“PStrassb.” 81.14 (2nd c.BC))]; μ. ἡ Ἄρτεμις Ἐφεσίων [NT (NT.Act.19.28)]; τίς θεὸς μ. ὡς ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶ; [LXX+NT (LXX.Psa.76(77).13; ὁ μ. θεός NT.Tit.2.13)]; of men, μ. ἠδὲ κραταιός [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 18.382; ὀλίγος καὶ μ. 7th c.BC: Callinus Epicus 1.17, etc.)]; μέγας ηὐξήθη rose to greatness, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 2.5; ἤρθη μ. [prev. work]8; βασιλεὺς ὁ μ.)], i. e. the King of Persia, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.188, etc. (θεῶν β. ὁ μ., of Zeus, 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 7.34); βασιλεὺς μ. 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Persae” 24 (_anapaest meter_))]; as a title of special monarchs, Ἀρδιαῖος ὁ μ. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 615c; ὁ μ. Ἀλέξανδρος 2nd c.AD: Athenaeus Epigrammaticus 1.3d; ὁ μ. ἐπικληθεὶς Ἀντίοχος 2nd c.BC: Polybius Historicus 4.2.7, etc.; μ. φίλος 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 549; πλούτῳ τε κἀνδρείᾳ μ. [prev. author] “Tr.” 674; ἐπὶ μέγα ἦλθεν ἰσχύος 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 2.97.)]
A.II.2 strong, of the elements, etc., ἄνεμος, λαῖλαψ, Ζέφυρος, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 19.200, 12.408, 14.458)]; of properties, passions, qualities, feelings, etc., of men, θάρσος, πένθος, ποθή, etc.,[NT+8th c.BC+ (9.381, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.254, 11.471, etc.; ἀρετή 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 24.193, 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 8.5; θυμός 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 9.496, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Orestes” 702; κλέος 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 6.446; ἄχος 9.9; πυρετός NT.Luke.4.38 (incorrect _accusative_ to 2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 7.275))]; ἡ μ. νοῦσος epilepsy, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Hippocrates Medicus “ἐπιδημίαι” 6.6.5, compare 2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 17(2).341.)]
A.II.3 of sounds, great, loud, ἀλαλητός, ἰαχή, πάταγος, ὀρυμαγδός, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 12.138, 15.384, 21.9, 256)]; θόρυβοι, κωκυτός, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 142 (_anapaest meter_), 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 1176; οὐκ ἔστι ὅκως τι νεῖκος ἔσται ἢ μέγα ἢ σμικρόν 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.62; μὴ φώνει μέγα 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 574.)]
A.II.4 generally, great, mighty, ὅρκος [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 19.113)]; ὄλβος, τιμά, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 1.56, “P.” 4.148)]; μ. λόγος, μῦθος, a great story, rumour, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 732, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 226 (Lyric poetry))]; ἐρώτημα a big, i. e. difficult, question, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Euthydemus” 275d, “Hp.Ma.” 287b)]; weighty, important, τόδε μεῖζον [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 16.291)]; μέγα ποιέεσθαί τι to esteem of great importance, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.42, compare 9.111; μέγα γενέσθαι εἴς τι 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Historia Graeca (Hellenica)” 7.5.6; μ. ὑπάρχειν πρός τι [prev. author] “Mem.” 2.3.4; μέγα διαφέρειν εἴς τι 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Leges” 78o c)]; οὐκ ἂν εἴη παρὰ μέγα τὸ δικολογεῖν not of great importance, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (1st c.BC: Philodemus Gadarensis Epigrammaticus “Rh.” 2.85 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus)]; τὸ δὲ μέγιστον and what is most important, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 4.70, compare 1.142)]; οἱ μέγιστοι καιροί the most pressing emergencies, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 20.44)]; μ. ὠνησάμενοι χρημάτων for large sums, [Refs 2nd c.BC+ (2nd c.BC: Polybius Historicus 4.50.3, etc.)]
A.II.5 with a bad sense, over-great, μέγα εἰπεῖν to speak big, and so provoke divine wrath, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 22.288; λίην μέγα εἶπες 3.227, 16.243; μέγα ἔργον 3.261, 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “N.” 10.64; ἔργων μ. 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 1546 (_anapaest meter_); ὠμὸν τὸ βούλευμα καὶ μ. 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 3.36)]; ἔπος μ., μ. λόγοι, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 423 (Lyric poetry), “Ant.” 1350 (_anapaest meter_); μ. γλῶσσα [prev. work] 127 (_anapaest meter_))]; μηδὲν μέγ᾽ εἴπῃς [Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. author] “Aj.” 386; μὴ μέγα λέγε 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedo” 95b; μὴ μεγάλα λίαν λέγε 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ranae” 835; μέγα φρονεῖν 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 1078, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Hippolytus” 6; μεγάλα φρονεῖν 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Acharnenses” 988)]; μεγάλα, μεῖζον ἢ δικαίως πνεῖν, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Andromache” 189, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 376 (Lyric poetry); μέγα τι παθεῖν 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 5.8.17; μὴ μέγα λέγων μεῖζον πάθῃς 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Hercules Furens” 1244.)]
A.II.6 of style. impressive, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Demetrius Phalereus Rhetor “Demetrius on Style” 278)]; μεῖζον more striking, [Refs ([prev. work] 103.)]
A.II.7 of days, long, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 12.714.)]
B adverb μεγάλως [ᾰ] greatly, mightily, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 16.432, 8th-7th c.BC: Hesiodus Epicus “Theogonia” 429, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.16, 30, +others, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 8.2.10, 1st c.BC: Parthenius Mythographus 28.1, etc.; strengthened, μάλα μ. 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 17.723; δμαθέντες μ. 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Persae” 907 (Lyric poetry); with _adjectives_, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.4, 7.190.)]
B.II more frequently neuter singular μέγα as adverb, very much, exceedingly, μ. χαῖρε all hail!, see l. for μάλα in [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 24.402)]; especially with Verbs expressing strong feeling, μ. κεν κεχαροίατο [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.256; μ. κήδεται 2.27, etc.: with Verbs expressing power, might, μ. πάντων.. κρατέει 1.78; ὃς μ. πάντων.. ἤνασσε 10.32; πατρὸς μ. δυναμένοιο 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.276, compare 8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus “Epigrammata” 15.1, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Eumenides” 950 (_anapaest meter_), 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Helena” 1358 (Lyric poetry), 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ranae” 141, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 366a; μ. δύνασθαι παρά τινι 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 2.29; πλουτέειν μ. 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.32)]; or those expressing sound, loudly, μ. ἰάχειν, ἀῧσαι, βοῆσαι, εὔξασθαι, ἀμβῶσαι, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.333, 14.147, 17.334, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 17.239, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.8 (also _plural_, μεγάλ᾽ εὔχετο 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.450)]; μ. αὐδήσαντος, μ. ἤπυεν, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 4.505, 9.399): strengthened, μάλα μ. 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 15.321; μ. δ᾽ ἔβραχε φήγινος ἄξων 5.838, etc.: so in Trag. with all kinds of Verbs, μ. στένειν, σθένειν, χλίειν, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 711 (Lyric poetry), 938, “Ch.” 137)]: also in plural, μεγάλα.. δυστυχεῖς [Refs ([prev. author] “Eu.” 791 (Lyric poetry).)]
B.II.2 of Space, far, μέγα προθορών [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 14.363)]; ἄνευθε μέγα far away,[Refs 5th c.BC+ (22.88; οὐκ ἂν μέγα τι τῆς ἀληθείας παρεξέλθοις 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Philebus” 66b.)]
B.II.3 with adjectives, as μέγ᾽ ἔξοχος, μέγα νήπιος, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.480, 16.46)]; μ. νήπιε Oracle texts cited in [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.85; μ. πλούσιος [prev. author] 1.32, 7.190; ὦ μέγ᾽ εὔδαιμον κόρη 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 647)]: with comparative and superlative, by far, μέγ᾽ ἀμείνονες, ἄριστος, φέρτατος, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 4.405, 2.82, 16.21.)]
C degrees of Comparison (regular μεγαλώτερος, -ώτατος late, [Refs (“Etymologicum Magnum” 780.1, 2):)]
C.1 comparative μείζων, ον, genitive ονος, Epic dialect, Attic dialect (also Delph., [Refs 4th c.BC+ (“SIG” 246 H 260 (4th c.BC)))]; Ionic dialect, [Refs 4th c.AD+ (4th c.AD(?): Arcadius Grammaticus)], Doric dialect, Aeolic dialect μέζων, ον, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (1st c.AD(?): Heraclitus 25, 5th c.BC: Hippocrates Medicus “περὶ διαίτης ὀξέων” 44, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.26, “IG” 7.235.16 (from Oropus), 5(2).3.18 (from Tegea), 5th c.BC: Epicharmus Comicus 62)] (also early Attic dialect, [Refs (“IG” 12.22.65, but [με] ίζων [prev. work]6.93, by analogy of ὀλείζων [prev. work]76,95))]; dative plural μεζόνεσσι [Refs 7th c.BC+ (Diotogenes Philosophus cited in 5th c.AD: Stobaeus, Joannes 4.7.62: written μέσδων in 7th-6th c.BC: Sappho Lyrica “Papyrus fragments” in E. Diehl, 7.6, 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus “Lycurgus” 19)]: compare μέττον· μεῖζον, [NT+5th c.AD+ (5th c.AD(?): Hesychius Legal icographus (uncertain); later μειζότερος NT.3JOhn.4)] (used as title, elder, [Refs 6th c.AD+ (POxy. 943.3 (6th c.AD), etc.))]; μειζονώτερος [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Fragmenta - American Journal of Philology” 434)]:—greater, longer, taller, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 3.168, 9.202, etc.)]; frequently also, too great, γέρας [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Sophista” 231a)]; Μηνόφιλος μείζων M. the elder, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (Ostr.Bodl. see C 2 (2nd c.AD))]; as title, μειζων κώμης headman of a village, [Refs 4th c.AD+ (“POxy.” 1626.5 (4th c.AD))], etc.: generally, the higher authority, [Refs 3rd c.AD+ (PLond. 2.214.22 (3rd c.AD), “POxy.” 1204.17 (_plural_, 3rd c.AD))]; οὔτε μεῖζον οὔτε ἔλαττον, a strong form of denial, nothing whatever, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (1st c.BC: Dionysius Halicarnassensis “de Compositione Verborum” 4; οὐδαμὰ προὔφηνεν οὔτε μείζον᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἐλάττονα 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 324)]. adverb μειζόνως [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Hecuba” 1121, 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.130, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Cynegeticus” 13.3, 5th-6th c.BC: Isocrates Orator 9.21, etc.)]; Ionic dialect μεζόνως [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.128, 3rd c.BC: Herodas Mimographus 4.80, etc.)]: neuter as adverb, μεῖζον σθένειν [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 456, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Supplices” 216; μ. ἰσχύειν 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator “Epistulae” 3.28; ἐπὶ μ. ἔρχεται 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 259.)]
C.2 superlative μέγιστος, η, ον, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.412, etc.)]: neuter as adverb, μέγιστον ἴσχυσε [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 502)]; δυνάμενος μ., with genitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 7.5, 9.9)]: with another superlative, μέγιστον ἐχθίστη [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 1323: in _plural_, χαῖρ᾽ ὡς μέγιστα 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 462; θάλλει μ. [prev. author] “OC” 700 (Lyric poetry); τὰ μέγιστ᾽ ἐτιμάθης [prev. author] “OT” 1203 (Lyric poetry))]; ἐς μέγιστον[Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 521; ἐς τὰ μ. 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 8.111)]:—late superlative μεγιστότατος [Refs 1st c.AD+ (“PLond.” 1.130.49 (1st-2nd c.AD))]. (Cf. Sanskrit majmán- 'greatness', Latin magnus, Gothic mikils 'great'.)
genitive μεγάλου, ης, ου, dative μεγάλῳ, ῃ, ῳ, accusative μέγᾰν, μεγάλην, μέγα [ᾰ]; dual μεγάλω, α, w; plural μεγάλοι, μεγάλαι, μεγάλα, etc.: the stem μεγάλο- is never used in singular nominative and accusative masculine and neuter, and only once in vocative masculine,
A ὦ μεγάλε Ζεῦ [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Septem contra Thebas” 822 (_anapaest meter_).)]
A.I big, of bodily size: frequently of stature, εἶδος.. μ. ἦν ὁράασθαι [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 18.4; κεῖτο μ. μεγαλωστί 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 16.776; ἠΰς τε μ. τε 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 9. 508)]; φῶτα μέγαν καὶ καλόν[Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 513; καλή τε μεγάλη τε 15.418; κάρτα μεγάλη καὶ εὐειδής 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.1)]; φύσιν τίν᾽ εἶχε φράζ; Answ. μέγας [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 742.)]
A.I.b full-grown, of age as shown by stature, νῦν δ᾽ ὅτε δὴ μ. εἰμί [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 2.314; μήτε μέγαν μήτ᾽ οὖν νεαρῶν τινα 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 358 (_anapaest meter_))]; later, elder of two persons of the same name, Wilcken [Refs 3rd c.BC+ (“Chr.” 305 (3rd c.BC))]; Σκιπίων ὁ μ. [Refs 2nd c.BC+ (2nd c.BC: Polybius Historicus 18.35.9.)]
A.I.c of animals, μ. ἵπποι, βοῦς, σῦς, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.839, 18.559, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 19.439; αἰετός 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “I.” 6(5).50.)]
A.I.2 generally, vast, high, οὐρανός, ὄρος, πύργος, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.497, 16.297, 6.386)]; wide, πέλαγος, λαῖτμα θαλάσσης, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 3.179, 5.174)]; long, ἠϊών, αἰγιαλός, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 12.31, 2.210: sometimes opposed to ὀλίγος, κῦμα οὔτε μέγ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ὀ. 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 10.94)]; but usually opposed to μικρός or σμικρός, πρὸς ἑαυτὸ ἕκαστον καὶ μ. καὶ σμικρόν [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Anaxagoras Philosophus 3; τὸ ἄπειρον ἐκ μεγάλου καὶ μικροῦ 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Metaphysica” 987b26, etc.)]
A.II of quality or degree, great, mighty, frequently epithet of gods, ὁ μ. Ζεύς [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Supplices” 1052 (Lyric poetry), etc.)]; μεγάλα θεά, of Demeter and Persephone, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Coloneus” 683 (Lyric poetry))]; θεοὶ μεγάλοι, of the Cabiri, [Refs (“IG” 12(8).71 (from Imbros), etc.)]; Μήτηρ μ., of Cybele, [Refs 3rd c.BC+ (“SIG” 1014.83 (Erythrae, 3rd c.BC), 1138.3 (Delos, 2nd c.BC))]; Μήτηρ θεῶν μ. [Refs (“OGI” 540.6 (from Pessinus), etc.)]; Ἴσιδος μ. μητρὸς θεῶν [Refs 2nd c.BC+ (“PStrassb.” 81.14 (2nd c.BC))]; μ. ἡ Ἄρτεμις Ἐφεσίων [NT (NT.Act.19.28)]; τίς θεὸς μ. ὡς ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶ; [LXX+NT (LXX.Psa.76(77).13; ὁ μ. θεός NT.Tit.2.13)]; of men, μ. ἠδὲ κραταιός [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 18.382; ὀλίγος καὶ μ. 7th c.BC: Callinus Epicus 1.17, etc.)]; μέγας ηὐξήθη rose to greatness, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 2.5; ἤρθη μ. [prev. work]8; βασιλεὺς ὁ μ.)], i. e. the King of Persia, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.188, etc. (θεῶν β. ὁ μ., of Zeus, 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 7.34); βασιλεὺς μ. 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Persae” 24 (_anapaest meter_))]; as a title of special monarchs, Ἀρδιαῖος ὁ μ. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 615c; ὁ μ. Ἀλέξανδρος 2nd c.AD: Athenaeus Epigrammaticus 1.3d; ὁ μ. ἐπικληθεὶς Ἀντίοχος 2nd c.BC: Polybius Historicus 4.2.7, etc.; μ. φίλος 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 549; πλούτῳ τε κἀνδρείᾳ μ. [prev. author] “Tr.” 674; ἐπὶ μέγα ἦλθεν ἰσχύος 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 2.97.)]
A.II.2 strong, of the elements, etc., ἄνεμος, λαῖλαψ, Ζέφυρος, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 19.200, 12.408, 14.458)]; of properties, passions, qualities, feelings, etc., of men, θάρσος, πένθος, ποθή, etc.,[NT+8th c.BC+ (9.381, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.254, 11.471, etc.; ἀρετή 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 24.193, 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 8.5; θυμός 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 9.496, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Orestes” 702; κλέος 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 6.446; ἄχος 9.9; πυρετός NT.Luke.4.38 (incorrect _accusative_ to 2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 7.275))]; ἡ μ. νοῦσος epilepsy, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Hippocrates Medicus “ἐπιδημίαι” 6.6.5, compare 2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 17(2).341.)]
A.II.3 of sounds, great, loud, ἀλαλητός, ἰαχή, πάταγος, ὀρυμαγδός, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 12.138, 15.384, 21.9, 256)]; θόρυβοι, κωκυτός, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 142 (_anapaest meter_), 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 1176; οὐκ ἔστι ὅκως τι νεῖκος ἔσται ἢ μέγα ἢ σμικρόν 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.62; μὴ φώνει μέγα 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 574.)]
A.II.4 generally, great, mighty, ὅρκος [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 19.113)]; ὄλβος, τιμά, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 1.56, “P.” 4.148)]; μ. λόγος, μῦθος, a great story, rumour, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 732, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 226 (Lyric poetry))]; ἐρώτημα a big, i. e. difficult, question, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Euthydemus” 275d, “Hp.Ma.” 287b)]; weighty, important, τόδε μεῖζον [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 16.291)]; μέγα ποιέεσθαί τι to esteem of great importance, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.42, compare 9.111; μέγα γενέσθαι εἴς τι 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Historia Graeca (Hellenica)” 7.5.6; μ. ὑπάρχειν πρός τι [prev. author] “Mem.” 2.3.4; μέγα διαφέρειν εἴς τι 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Leges” 78o c)]; οὐκ ἂν εἴη παρὰ μέγα τὸ δικολογεῖν not of great importance, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (1st c.BC: Philodemus Gadarensis Epigrammaticus “Rh.” 2.85 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus)]; τὸ δὲ μέγιστον and what is most important, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 4.70, compare 1.142)]; οἱ μέγιστοι καιροί the most pressing emergencies, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 20.44)]; μ. ὠνησάμενοι χρημάτων for large sums, [Refs 2nd c.BC+ (2nd c.BC: Polybius Historicus 4.50.3, etc.)]
A.II.5 with a bad sense, over-great, μέγα εἰπεῖν to speak big, and so provoke divine wrath, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 22.288; λίην μέγα εἶπες 3.227, 16.243; μέγα ἔργον 3.261, 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “N.” 10.64; ἔργων μ. 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 1546 (_anapaest meter_); ὠμὸν τὸ βούλευμα καὶ μ. 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 3.36)]; ἔπος μ., μ. λόγοι, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 423 (Lyric poetry), “Ant.” 1350 (_anapaest meter_); μ. γλῶσσα [prev. work] 127 (_anapaest meter_))]; μηδὲν μέγ᾽ εἴπῃς [Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. author] “Aj.” 386; μὴ μέγα λέγε 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedo” 95b; μὴ μεγάλα λίαν λέγε 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ranae” 835; μέγα φρονεῖν 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 1078, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Hippolytus” 6; μεγάλα φρονεῖν 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Acharnenses” 988)]; μεγάλα, μεῖζον ἢ δικαίως πνεῖν, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Andromache” 189, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 376 (Lyric poetry); μέγα τι παθεῖν 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 5.8.17; μὴ μέγα λέγων μεῖζον πάθῃς 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Hercules Furens” 1244.)]
A.II.6 of style. impressive, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Demetrius Phalereus Rhetor “Demetrius on Style” 278)]; μεῖζον more striking, [Refs ([prev. work] 103.)]
A.II.7 of days, long, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 12.714.)]
B adverb μεγάλως [ᾰ] greatly, mightily, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 16.432, 8th-7th c.BC: Hesiodus Epicus “Theogonia” 429, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.16, 30, +others, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 8.2.10, 1st c.BC: Parthenius Mythographus 28.1, etc.; strengthened, μάλα μ. 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 17.723; δμαθέντες μ. 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Persae” 907 (Lyric poetry); with _adjectives_, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.4, 7.190.)]
B.II more frequently neuter singular μέγα as adverb, very much, exceedingly, μ. χαῖρε all hail!, see l. for μάλα in [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 24.402)]; especially with Verbs expressing strong feeling, μ. κεν κεχαροίατο [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.256; μ. κήδεται 2.27, etc.: with Verbs expressing power, might, μ. πάντων.. κρατέει 1.78; ὃς μ. πάντων.. ἤνασσε 10.32; πατρὸς μ. δυναμένοιο 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.276, compare 8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus “Epigrammata” 15.1, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Eumenides” 950 (_anapaest meter_), 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Helena” 1358 (Lyric poetry), 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ranae” 141, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 366a; μ. δύνασθαι παρά τινι 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 2.29; πλουτέειν μ. 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.32)]; or those expressing sound, loudly, μ. ἰάχειν, ἀῧσαι, βοῆσαι, εὔξασθαι, ἀμβῶσαι, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.333, 14.147, 17.334, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 17.239, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.8 (also _plural_, μεγάλ᾽ εὔχετο 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.450)]; μ. αὐδήσαντος, μ. ἤπυεν, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 4.505, 9.399): strengthened, μάλα μ. 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 15.321; μ. δ᾽ ἔβραχε φήγινος ἄξων 5.838, etc.: so in Trag. with all kinds of Verbs, μ. στένειν, σθένειν, χλίειν, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 711 (Lyric poetry), 938, “Ch.” 137)]: also in plural, μεγάλα.. δυστυχεῖς [Refs ([prev. author] “Eu.” 791 (Lyric poetry).)]
B.II.2 of Space, far, μέγα προθορών [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 14.363)]; ἄνευθε μέγα far away,[Refs 5th c.BC+ (22.88; οὐκ ἂν μέγα τι τῆς ἀληθείας παρεξέλθοις 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Philebus” 66b.)]
B.II.3 with adjectives, as μέγ᾽ ἔξοχος, μέγα νήπιος, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.480, 16.46)]; μ. νήπιε Oracle texts cited in [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.85; μ. πλούσιος [prev. author] 1.32, 7.190; ὦ μέγ᾽ εὔδαιμον κόρη 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 647)]: with comparative and superlative, by far, μέγ᾽ ἀμείνονες, ἄριστος, φέρτατος, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 4.405, 2.82, 16.21.)]
C degrees of Comparison (regular μεγαλώτερος, -ώτατος late, [Refs (“Etymologicum Magnum” 780.1, 2):)]
C.1 comparative μείζων, ον, genitive ονος, Epic dialect, Attic dialect (also Delph., [Refs 4th c.BC+ (“SIG” 246 H 260 (4th c.BC)))]; Ionic dialect, [Refs 4th c.AD+ (4th c.AD(?): Arcadius Grammaticus)], Doric dialect, Aeolic dialect μέζων, ον, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (1st c.AD(?): Heraclitus 25, 5th c.BC: Hippocrates Medicus “περὶ διαίτης ὀξέων” 44, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.26, “IG” 7.235.16 (from Oropus), 5(2).3.18 (from Tegea), 5th c.BC: Epicharmus Comicus 62)] (also early Attic dialect, [Refs (“IG” 12.22.65, but [με] ίζων [prev. work]6.93, by analogy of ὀλείζων [prev. work]76,95))]; dative plural μεζόνεσσι [Refs 7th c.BC+ (Diotogenes Philosophus cited in 5th c.AD: Stobaeus, Joannes 4.7.62: written μέσδων in 7th-6th c.BC: Sappho Lyrica “Papyrus fragments” in E. Diehl, 7.6, 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus “Lycurgus” 19)]: compare μέττον· μεῖζον, [NT+5th c.AD+ (5th c.AD(?): Hesychius Legal icographus (uncertain); later μειζότερος NT.3JOhn.4)] (used as title, elder, [Refs 6th c.AD+ (POxy. 943.3 (6th c.AD), etc.))]; μειζονώτερος [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Fragmenta - American Journal of Philology” 434)]:—greater, longer, taller, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 3.168, 9.202, etc.)]; frequently also, too great, γέρας [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Sophista” 231a)]; Μηνόφιλος μείζων M. the elder, [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (Ostr.Bodl. see C 2 (2nd c.AD))]; as title, μειζων κώμης headman of a village, [Refs 4th c.AD+ (“POxy.” 1626.5 (4th c.AD))], etc.: generally, the higher authority, [Refs 3rd c.AD+ (PLond. 2.214.22 (3rd c.AD), “POxy.” 1204.17 (_plural_, 3rd c.AD))]; οὔτε μεῖζον οὔτε ἔλαττον, a strong form of denial, nothing whatever, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (1st c.BC: Dionysius Halicarnassensis “de Compositione Verborum” 4; οὐδαμὰ προὔφηνεν οὔτε μείζον᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἐλάττονα 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 324)]. adverb μειζόνως [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Hecuba” 1121, 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.130, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Cynegeticus” 13.3, 5th-6th c.BC: Isocrates Orator 9.21, etc.)]; Ionic dialect μεζόνως [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.128, 3rd c.BC: Herodas Mimographus 4.80, etc.)]: neuter as adverb, μεῖζον σθένειν [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 456, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Supplices” 216; μ. ἰσχύειν 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator “Epistulae” 3.28; ἐπὶ μ. ἔρχεται 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 259.)]
C.2 superlative μέγιστος, η, ον, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.412, etc.)]: neuter as adverb, μέγιστον ἴσχυσε [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 502)]; δυνάμενος μ., with genitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 7.5, 9.9)]: with another superlative, μέγιστον ἐχθίστη [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 1323: in _plural_, χαῖρ᾽ ὡς μέγιστα 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 462; θάλλει μ. [prev. author] “OC” 700 (Lyric poetry); τὰ μέγιστ᾽ ἐτιμάθης [prev. author] “OT” 1203 (Lyric poetry))]; ἐς μέγιστον[Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 521; ἐς τὰ μ. 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 8.111)]:—late superlative μεγιστότατος [Refs 1st c.AD+ (“PLond.” 1.130.49 (1st-2nd c.AD))]. (Cf. Sanskrit majmán- 'greatness', Latin magnus, Gothic mikils 'great'.)