Key terms
for
Thucydides Peloponnesian War 1.1–23

On this page are the key terms tracked in the augmented translation of Thucydides Book 1, which is available in the Text Library.

This list is also available to download as a PDF:
Handout of Key Terms for Thucydides Book 1

adēlos [ἄδηλος] uncertain; hidden

adunatos [ἀδύνατος] weak; ( plus infin.) incapable of; impossible

aitia [αἰτία] accusation, blame; (medical) cause

akoē [ἀκοή] hearing; reputation; oral tradition

akouein [ἀκούειν] to hear; with adverb, be reputed

akribeia [ἀκρίβεια] exactitude

anoikizein [ἀνοικίζειν] to remove up the country

apisteîn [ἀπιστεῖν] to be unconvinced, disbelieve, distrust

apistia [ἀπιστία] disbelief, distrust, mistrust

apistos [ἄπιστος] not to be trusted

apoikia [ἀποικία] a settlement far from home, a colony settlement

arkhaios [ἀρχαῖος] from the beginning, original, old-fashioned

arkhē [ἀρχή] beginning, rule, command, office, kingdom, empire,

(in passive) being ruled

arkhein [ἄρχειν]* to begin; rule, govern, command

arkhēgos [ἀρχηγός] beginning, originating

asphaleia [ἀσφάλεια] security against falling, safety

asphalēs [ἀσφαλής]* not liable to fall, immoveable, steadfast, firm

ateikhistos [ἀτείχιστος] unwalled, unfortified

bebaios [βέβαιος] safe

bebaioûn [βεβαιοῦν] to make firm, confirm, establish, secure, warrant, make good

dēlos [δῆλος] visible, conspicuous

dēloûn [δηλοῦν] to convey, make known, reveal

ta deonta [τὰ δέοντα] what is necessary

diaita [δίαιτα] a way of living, mode of life

diaitâsthai [διαιτᾶσθαι] (mid.) to pursue a lifestyle, live

diaitēma [διαίτημα] rules of life, a mode or course of life

diaphora [διαφορά] estrangement, rift (διάφορος “estranged”), quarrel, falling-out

dokeîn [δοκεῖν] (impers.) to seem best, think; seem, think

dunasthai [δύνασθαι] to be able plus inf.; be powerful; signify, mean

dunamis [δύναμις]* power; might, strength

dunatos [δυνατός] strong, mighty, able

enoikeîn [ἐνοικεῖν] to dwell in

ēpeiros [ἤπειρος] terra-firma, the land

epikrateîn [ἐπικρατεῖν] to rule over

epitēdeuein [ἐπιτηδεύειν] engage in regularly

erga [ἔργα] achievements

gnōmē [γνώμη] thinking, plan (any product of thought), but with various references and associated words; attitude, intellect, plan, spirit

graphein [γράφειν] to write; (mid.) indict

hēgeîsthai [ἡγεῖσθαι]* to lead; consider, believe

hēgemōn [ἡγεμών] leader, guide

heuriskein [εὑρίσκειν] to find, discover

houtos ho polemos this war (= Peloponnesian war) 

hupēkoos [ὑπήκοος] subject (to those more powerful); (nt. sg) state of subjection

isodiaitos [ἰσοδίαιτος] living on an equality

katoikizein [κατοικίζειν] to settle

khrēmata [χρήματα] (pl) goods, money, property

kleos [κλέος] glory

krateîn [κρατεῖν] dominate, take control of; overcome, prevail

kratistos [κράτιστος] strongest, mightiest

ktâsthai [κτᾶσθαι] to acquire, gain possession of

ktēma [κτῆμα] acqusition; attainment

ktēsis [κτῆσις] acquisition

legein [λέγειν] to pick; to say

logos pl. logoi [λόγος, λὀγοι] The act of speech (talk, oration, negotiations, report); content of speech, (proposal, plan, argument)

metoikia [μετοικία] change of abode, removal, migration

nemein [νέμειν] to deal out, distribute, dispense

nomizein [νομίζειν] to believe, think

oikeîn [οἰκεῖν] to inhabit, settle (of colonists and cleruch); live; administer, rule

oikeîos [οἰκεῖος] relative, close family member; domestic; one’s own

oikēsis [οἴκησις] the act of dwelling, habitation

oikētōr [οἰκήτωρ] an inhabitant; a colonist

oikistēs [οἰκιστής] a coloniser, founder of a city

oikizein [οἰκίζειν] to found as a colony

oikos [οἶκος] a house, abode, dwelling

oligarkhia [ὀλιγαρχία] government by a few, oligarchy

palaios [παλαιὀς] old in years

paraskeuē [παρασκευἠ] preparedness (military); matériel

paraskeuazein [παρασκευάζειν] to get ready, prepare

parathalassios [παραθαλάσσιος] beside the sea, lying on the sea-side, maritime

pareînai [παρεῖναι] to be present, at the scene; (of situations) be current; (impers.) be permitted

perioikis [περιοικίς] neighboring (subst., surrounding territory of a town)

perioikos [περίοικος] dwelling round

phainesthai [φαίνεσθαι] to appear, be obviously

phēmē [φήμη] legend

pisteuein [πιστεύειν] to be convinced, believe, trust; rely on

plousios [πλούσιος] rich, wealthy, opulent

prophasis [πρόφασις] professed justification (from πρόφημι); falsely professed justification, pretext; military trickery; convenient excuse

prosoikos [πρόσοικος] dwelling near to, bordering on, neighboring

saphēs [σαφής] clear, plain, distinct, manifest

skopeîn [σκοπεῖν] to analyze, investigate, study, interpret

stasis [στάσις] a standing, the posture of standing; faction

sunokizein [συνοικίζειν] to make to live with

tekmairesthai [τεκμαίρεσθαι] to infer from evidence

tekmērion [τεκμήριον] inference

tekmērioûn [τεκμηριοῦν] to prove positively

teikhizein [τειχίζειν] to build a wall

teikhos [τεῖχος] a wall

thalassa [θάλασσα]* the sea

thalassios [θαλάσσιος] of, in, on, from the sea

tropos [τρόπος] a turn, direction, course, way; character