Colloquialisms, Semi-Proverbs, and Word-Play in Plato

Author(s): Dorothy Tarrant

Source: The Classical Quarterly, Vol. 40, No. 3/4 (Jul. - Oct., 1946), pp. 109-117
Published by: Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Classical Association
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 COLLOQUIALISMS,SEMI-PROVERBS, AND WORD-PLAY
IN PLATO,
THE basis of Plato's style being for the most part informal conversation, certain
elements natural and appropriate to this atmosphere may be looked for and found.
These include: (i) colloquialisms in the accepted sense-short phrases, or special uses
of words, associated with informal or comic style; (2) phrases of poetic type, probably
quotations or adaptations, used frequently with, burlesque effect; (3) proverbial or
semi-proverbial matter; (4) word-play of various types. The above groups overlap
at certain points, but the classification may serve fairly well to set forth the material
in question.

I. Colloquialisms
Apart from the frequently recurring formulae of question and answer, etc., a
number of other usages clearly suggest the current habits of familiar speech. Some of
these can be paralleled from comedy or from the orators.

apct ,ye' rns, etc. For these phrases L. and S. quote, besides Plato, Aristophanes
and Lysias.
Prot. 323 b, avayKa-ov ov3''va vTnva oyX1% cd. a3rijs. Cf. Tim.
ye rrows4LE7ieXELV 52 c.
Prot. 331 d, Kal y&p&i-7LOov ^tI
67TcpoIv y 7 rpoCa'otKEV.Cf. Rep. 474 c.
Gorg. 492 d, 7rA?4pwacv... .ctado'v yef TOOevTroLjtLpELv.
Cf. Laws 798 b.
e tpdAa. The phrase is fairly common from the Odysseyonwards, but seems clearly
colloquial in feeling. It is frequent in Plato, with some variant forms.
Euthyph. 4 a, yVXadveL cO
Eo LdcAa7rpcaTflS . Cf. Crito 49 d, Rep. 411 c, 578 c, Gorg.
496 c, Soph. 223 c, Polit. 306 c, Laws 922 c, 932 a.
Theaet. 169 b, tdLA'E16ovyKEKc
c aatv.
Euthyd. 276 c, rpl'v&varrvevaaKad9 -E Kal E b, Prot. 319 e,
KaAWuS Ka&iGETratSvatV,Rep. 503 d, SEv E6 TE ' tLEtpKLOV.Cf. 307
KaAjWTLEjTEXEV.
K•
i i?av-r dtvac. An ellipsis clearly colloquial.
Symp. 194 a, KaG(La av ooO ito Kal v vravn Ets w7pofEp lycl viv.
Euthyd. 301 a, Kayw & 4opas. inT
iv ravr tvd7)V
Rep. 579 b, av . .. p ov v. i& Tal KaKOV El7).
•e
with verbs. A few examples of a usage more frequent in comedy.
x•wv c, Cf.
Euthyd. 295 ~wXovAvapes. Gorg. 490 e, OAvape^Sxwv.
Phaedr. 236 e, 7r 84~a ;
I•wvovrpeo'•
irn Kald 7S, etc. Certain phrases associated with the religious formula
0r5n
o
XatPEE vopado'levoT. Plato uses this formula in full a number of times, usually with
satirical effect; also, by a neat play, with an active participle, dvodL~wv, etc. There
are, besides, instances in which nr Kaa gr)S, with variants, stands alone as apparently
an accepted colloquialism.
Crat. 400ooe, orev's 7T Kca dTds'Ev Cf. Phaedr. 273 c, Euthyd.
288 a, Phil. 12 c, Tim. 28 b. gapovaev Vo(taSdCLEvoC.
Prot. 358 a, ETE dZdo KG W6 Xa(IPELS ia 70oGaTradvocLpwv. (Adam's note explains
the origin of the formula, ao
but does not recognize the added pleasantry in the use of
the active.) Cf. Symp. 212 c, Laws 763b.
Phaedo loo d, EL7e IT7l57 KaQ
EL7EKOLVWVa v7.
•E•E ..apovo.a "ws rpooyvop

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IIO DOROTHY TARRANT
Laws 899 a, 0'' c
rwS E0' 899 b, E4Le -5 7i Ka o woS. (These two examples
or0,
suggest that no participle is needed in the Phaedo passage.)
6-r&tpa0cvin sense of 'because'.
Ap. 36 b, T aos ..
ElJlUT0craOEV o&e . .. . odx vxav jyov; Cf. Euthyd. 283 e,
a. •&aOv
299
Prot. 353 d, &oaWSS' av KLKa TV, 07C tLadV7L
XoacptV wTOcEcKal ; (See Adam's note.)
O4O~7ov
ov e ovap.
Theaet. 173 d, oovSaU 84 .... o0vS ovap rrpa'-rew7rpoaorasati aot)iroS.
Phil. 65 e, Opdo'aov . . . oselS7C* VOTrE
l
ov8' vlap ov' ovap alaXpov . . . erv.
(Cf. Callim., Anth. Pal. v. 23. 4, 5, 'Ae'ov8' o3' vvap 2 olrdpovac,
avL"aaeL yETdroveS
a'
ao odS' ovap. Here is a play between the literal reference to sleep and the colloquial
use of the phrase.)
So-S
odl)SeL oid. This elliptical phrase is fairly frequent; it suggests, especially when
irrationally attracted and declined, a colloquial usage. Plato has several such examples.
JrTE
Gorg. 491 e, oViSets' o0K av yvo'Y . Cf. Men. 71 a.
Phaedo iio e, KELSe 01Sev oT&01vod rov-rov dva. Cf. Rep. 598 c, Men. 74 d.
Phaedo I 17 d, ovSe'vaovrwvaod3KaTeKAe 7rct v rapo'vrov. Cf. Prot. 323 c, Theaet. 170 a.
5 ov
Prot. 317 c, o'Sevor O/TL 0ira 'VWV av
oV ... 7TaL?7epeT77v.
Meno 70 c, oVSev OTy oVK
aTOKptvo•pVO9.
o oVLKpoV,
TE Ltya oire etc.
t yve oy
Apf. i9 c, uv y rc'dya otrrE OtJaKpoV7r pt Matw.Cf. 21 b, 24 a, 26 b, Laws 900 e.
r" "
Ap. 9 d, EL ro7T7E 77ovtkKpov tL'ya ae ...
8aAeyd•'/.LEov.
Phil. 21 e, Lrj7E 'ya 4L7EOaKpdv. Cf. 32 e, 33 b, Laws 793 c.
in derisive sense.
98t`8•
Rep. 527 d, 7~s EOCK S~
t ... t SE&6OKd76T, KTA. (Schol. 2c~rG.)
E Cf. 337 d, 348 c,
Gorg. 491 e. E•
Parm. 131 b, 'rsE ye ..&v . -rada v ta woAAaXo0
KaAeLS.
.?. av 6L,
Theaet. 209 e, q'r8Xp-qL' E KrA. (See below.)
i Cf. Ar. Ach. 62, etc.
roZoo in derisive sense.
Gorg. 492 d, e, rTol'v tparrwv ; . .. . rroa
T
ro87para ; Cf. Theaet. 18o b, Charm.. 74 b.
Kpovos as a title of ridicule. Cf. Ar. Nub. 929, Plut. 581.
Euthyd. 287 b, o1TrwS at KpovoS, WOe ar 7TprFov EdTrobEV vV advaI vlaK2, KTA.

LuvptI with comparative.

Rep. 520 c, pvpl,'flA'A-rov. Cf. Tim. 33 b.
OoTTe ...
Polit. 272 c, rAv vvv of 7rpOsElSaqtoviav 8&E9Epov. Cf. Theaet. 166 d.
rtva tpvpl~
(Laws 677 e, pvplav phv OSofEpdveprpljjav, suggests another perhaps colloquial
use.)
rarax, of thumbing a writer. Cf. Ar. Av.'471.
Phaedr. 273 a, rTv rE TEsolav aVrov rrlnra7r7SaKsfKp6ls.
Examples given by L. and S. are clearly colloquial: Ar. Plut. 121, 494,
7rEpevooaro.
Dem. Fals. Leg. ? 255.
Rep. 558 a, Z WorEp?pws.
TEpWoaU'Eo
rpaypta. Several examples appear colloquial; two apply the word.to persons, and
are clearly so.
Crito 53 c-d, odK oLE aXtov av 9 alvecYaL To0
<.wKpaTOvS rpay7La;
(Cf. Hipp.
T-
Ma. 286 e, and my note.)

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 COLLOQUIALISMSAND SEMI-PROVERBS IN PLATO III
Gorg. 520 b, Tro5r 7rpaq.jar&
8 aiv'ol raLsEVovcnv.
Prot. 312 c, p•L•caOac
l38E&oTu 7r~v .
otaea, o0V'E dya0p oV'T E KaKJ7-rpay/LaTL
7rapa&S•ose; 4vxyjv
Laws 640 c, Kal ~ ootse . .. S
a~Ppxov-r0 odeSV ye
7rpdyi/aT-.
xp-ua. A common colloquialism. Cf. Ar. Nub. i, etc.
Rep. 567 e, ~ . .. A'YELS
yvpdvvov . xpil'La.
IaKdptov
Ion 534 b, KOD#OV XP7ap a
Ydp EdoT
Theaet. 209 e, 778SXpit-' v 7ro&~-r1
70o) K -r C7rep
7TV y
"j~ Ao'yov.
E• TaAorov arnrl
In three instances the use of the word dypoKO'-TEpov seems to pave the way for a
colloquial expression:
oVS'&rtovr. L. and S. quote only Ar. Nub. 344 and Plut. 384, 5. Add Dem. 23 ? 68,
25 ??3, 5 (twice).
Ap. 32 d, 4kotOav6'rov ptv t'dAEL, Et L7jdypoCdKOTEpov 4v Elt7r
E, oi8' doroVv.
Ek
aot sKEaAvrv. Cf. Ar. Pax o1063, Plut. 526, 650.
Euthyd. 283e, el qaypo&KoTpov .....iv EvrEV,Et7ov~,v, ?o~ v, u KTA.
KEaA• T, a0(cv,
C= KOppr7 .TVWTEV.

Gorg. 486 c, 7Tv 8 To0tovrT0, et T&

K•al daypo0KOTICPOV
Cf. 508 d (rd E~popjOa, eko-r7V rElT
Koppj. iTd-
7rrovla tj, 8Sdval bcquv. 88 70T70,
veavrKdV KTA.),527 a.
(At Gorg. 508 e the point seems to be rather a bold and infrequent metaphor-
K Et
KaTeXEtra& SEa, KX
ypOtKd7EpdV
ETt, T E1ELV Kal dBaCLamYivots
mL1pOWS V
Ao'yotS.)

2. Poetic expressions (withoutdefinite ascription)

Apart from the many examples of explicit or obvious quotation from poets, there
are also a number of instances in which either an identifiable or (more often) a con-
jecturable borrowing from a poetic source gives the suggestion of a natural feature in
cultured Athenian talk. The effect is frequently playful or burlesque.
Gorg. 507 d, 'KoAaar'v %OSV
tVKTE OV d KUOS
EXEC J~oV.
Gorg. 507 e, 'vvtvrov KaKqv, A~roi lov to Wa. The word &avvvwros is frequent,
but here the phrase seems poetic.
Phaedo 98 b, &rc CA~'o9 c XdorZvEpd 'Evos. (Cf. Phil. 13 d below.)
UGavuaor
Phaedo ii5 a, 4ip& v3v KacctAE, av 71
7TpaCyKd9,
Eq.Laphevl.
Phaedo zz7 a, 70o
TOy7
#•")
KKG .d..p O•VeVST' Cf. Hes. Op. 369,
yA7Xdo'Evo EL~O•t•VOS vOvrosTO.
8eA7) 8' iM"7rvpI'vt #EL8LU.
Symp. 218 e, 7d ~"vr Xpvca XaAKEcWV vo-os. Cf. II. 6. 235-6. Bury, 'In
Xpdacathere is an obvious reference to SLapele•Ea0aL
the Xpvcaof 216 e.'
dycdAllara
Phaedr. 236 d, avese Aywo. Cf. Pind. fr. 94 (Bow.), and Ar. Av. 945.
'ro,
Phaedr. 276 d, E4sr7 A10rq &mavYrtirat. Heindorf, 'verba haec poetam sapiunt'.
Y.pas-
Rep. 364 b, vt?vES 7rAovai•wv
Jadvr7Ee O~pas, KTA.Cf. Phaedr. 233 e (and Thomp-
d=
son's n.), Laws 953 d, and Rep. 489b, where the saying in its original form is criticized:
see Adam's note. Ar. Rhet. 1391a8 ascribes the phrase to Simonides.
Rep. 486 c, 531d,)dvW-ra 7rovE•Yv.
552c, v96 . . . cpvovU oqa.
vebcn
Rep. •Adam, 'has a proverbial ring'.
Rep. 564 e, K71qvwVf ordr0vn.
&~lA'yao
Rep. 566 c, 8 TAov dAAaKaTaflaAdv,KTA.Cf. II. 16. 776.
o KE~Trat,
4aEyaAowraT
Rep. 581 Kal A•Uaplav.Cf. Ar. Nub. 320, rEpl
d,.Kamv
a,
o -raEvoAEaXEoLv.
Karov,
Rep. 586 PoaKrmtarwvSlK7v.
Rep. 607 e, fBi Cyv, 8 Cf. Polit. 289 b, and Soph. Ant. I1o5, LdA\LS
/LEV, KapSlaS 8' iEoa,.CLaL.owrs d7E'Xovra•.
Theaet. r68 e, ot 7roAAv . . .LEydAovE
7rd7ywvas ~xo'wrwvaI.LEvov &aKoAov7"4eLE
;
The anapaestic rhythm suggests a quotation from comedy.
Theaet. 191 a, 7~j KTA.Campbell compares
A'dy7rap•'obEv c• vavIyiV1r-es rra••V,
Soph. Aj.1142 ff., 1146, 7rarnv OGAovre
,rapd•x 7~- vav'rirAwv.

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112 DOROTHY TARRANT
Phil. 13 d, KaUdJ Aoyor ?•jqv mKfrawv
oKgracCaJ. Bury, 'a metaphor from a ship
stranded in a storm; the rhythm suggests a tragic citation'. With o'Xo rat cf.
Phaedo 98 b, above.
Phil. 66 a, VVKT• rtvCvra-rd rotara 8&Y&VTeS.Cf. Pind. Pyth. 4. 115, VVKT& KOLVa-

o Sov.
O'LVTES
Soph.238a, T'Ir. Cf.Soph.Aj. 386,
d/y'EL /dy' EL7•trs.
Polit. 31o ,w ~,~1v
d, 6eavE v vravrcdraac paviat'. Cf. Aesch. Pers. 821, Bflpe ieavOoa',
y•p
KTA. may here have the same point of emphasis as d-EXvwG, etc.; see below.)
(7raY7eCracl
Laws Ope'p.aTa NEAov. Perhaps a hexameter ending.
953 e, KaG0raEprTOLOLatvvvLOV

3. Proverbsand Semi-proverbs
Plato's fondness for the use of proverbs is generally recognized and has been the
subject of separate study (see e.g. W. Lingenberg, Platonische Bilde und Sprichw6rter,
1874). Many of these proverbs, either well known as in general use or at any rate
paralleled elsewhere, appear in the lists of the Paroemiographi. A few besides are noted
and explained by the scholiasts. Some others, though introduced by Plato with the
formula r6 or the like, seem not to be elsewhere identifiable as proverbs.
A•ydLEvov
Most of these are annotated but not all. The lists in
by editors, given indexes, e.g.
by Jowett and Campbell and by Abbott, cover the most familiarand accepted proverbs
but are inconsistent as to those quoted by Plato alone. It is these latter which are of
present interest, as perhaps pointing to sayings especially current in Plato's own time.
Of the phrases cited as proverbial only (apparently) by Plato, several are found
more than once in the dialogues, implying a favourite usage.
rravlwa ya0a Ktl KAoAd, etc.
Euthyd. 293 d, oT yap AE•y~dLVOV, KaAa 8) 7ravTaAE'yELts.(7raTaye-S Photius.)
Men. 97 e, 65at at&A• 'OE . . . KaAovrrTipdyLpG KaLrrdvT'dyaOe&pyadovTaL.
' Cf. Phil. 26 a-b, Laws 757 b, 780 d,
Polit. 284 b, rrdvra Kal KaAa'
,ya0a drEpyctdov-Ta.
783 e, Ep. vi. 323 c.
rraaav •wviv l'vat, etc.
Laws 890 d, r~raav, d AEyo'Levov, #wvq~vIevTa. Cf. Rep. 475 a, Euthyd. 293 a.
Lys. 222 b, =iT 8'0jSoz
q iavrrioSan I#etXk pcpara.
Kal TV#A(A
^SqAov.
Soph. 241 d, WrrS ydrp o T
Kaal, 8q 'ororo, 7TvbAC; Cf. Rep. 465 d,
aal.veTra AEyd/•rvov
550 d.
OVSElSE7TyWWV SUOKEt.,etc.
Laws 887 b, ottsES y&p p ad, ro AEyo'~vov, d7TELywv&OKeL. England, 'we may con-
jecture a proverbial saying in the sense of "There's no hurry"'. Cf. Theaet. 187 d,
Laws 781 e.
TIE T rravS.
atrros• K•a
Euthyd. 307 c, Oapp6^v81WKEC LT
KaG aUaKE, &) atrOs KTa7 rrasa.
Cf. Rep. 372 b. AYo'tEzcvov'TOYTO, 74-E

T7EVSWv fpaSvveLv.

Pol. 264 b, TOKa7drqv rrapoqulv7dT0s .. . oOx ?5xovse

eoS•alpoDv'7ras 'KvvrvaL
flpa8S6repov.Cf. Rep. 528 d.
The following are single instances of Expressionsquoted by Plato as proverbial but
not included by the Paroemiographi:
Men. 77a, rravaa&7roAAL
7ToLv EK
TO"
EV•S,
oI•Ep aa oafTO'Vvp KOC 76Tr0&E
cYVV'OWbT OL
KC*7rov1Er~.Possibly a reference to the game of rTdAEes(cf. Rep. 422 e), but may be a
more elementary joke about 'multiplication by smashing'.

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 COLLOQUIALISMSAND SEMI-PROVERBS IN PLATO 113
Crat. 425 c, vry 8" T' AEY'C'EOV KarTSivacytv ra ... .
Phaedo 66 c, ca'oe
v- T AEyo'vov d i&AC9~S 9SE'a• W-oT& .rpaypa7re•Eoa
720 epoviclaa jpZv eyylyvETa&
OdBSrore The special emphasis here given by d &A9068Z .r '&
v (see below)
o3,S'Y.
points the philosophic application of oid83qpov-aaL.
Rep. 492 c, '7v v'ov, 7' Aeyo'/Eov, ,'va otEL KapS~avaXtELV ; Adam quotes parallels
with yvW$'bpv and PvXx'v,and thinks KapS av may be reminiscent of tragedy.
Rep. 573 c, 't 7 v 7Ta&TcuIv, 4b7,oi K /Ol EpES.
Theaet. 153 d, Kia~ evo'"
o ' v To% AEyoEvov VO KaTwTa No doubt a reminiscence
of Heraclitus. ,vTa.
Theaet. 162 b, El 0oErw... aot I'Aov, od3'
8Lot dEXOpd, aclv ol
'rapooLpaS/hcevoL.
Soph. 226 a, pl . . KaL T' 0 7T- apA Campbell
kr7rrEv'ov.
explains of TroLKl•OV OV•
an animal;
catching Stallbaum,Acy,'YdEvov
of boxing.
Soph. 231 c,)opGO yap 7) apoplla, 7TbTar e1•47 Sv SLa#EYELV. Again
obscure--see Campbell's note. atra•aav alva,

Soph. 249 d, KaTa"Tv rcjv 7ralw v E13•V)... Ae'Eyv. Campbell is no doubt

right in making the significant.VUVGa/.Lr7Tpa
word.
ovva•tq'T6pa
Soph. 252 c, T' AeEY'CEoE oVOKOOEV iTO
IVTOAEOVEXOV7E, KTA.
Soph. 261 b, oaoAjj Tb Ka'r 7v riapoyllav AEydEvov, d Tr70oC0~oAV O od'Av.
Phil. 19 e, KaArEp ,rov, •
AE'yOEV, o raZes, o7r 7 V dpdos So00vwv c&alpecas o03K Jcrn.
Bury compares Gorg.499 b.
Tim. 26 b,d) v T , c
AeXyLEVOV,
AalSwv 8 avLaoovXv &ELe
o 87
Laws 706 c, #eu!yovat 7•& ~ gaaLv, vyvycsr. LV7YLE•or.
T•vw oVK oa,•ha'a
a~atpa6, Taylor, ' "flight without
dishonour", as it is called'.
Laws 708 d, KaO6ep ro7wv ~E/^oS0 KaO' Jva 'ratrov, 'b AEydopvov, ovL#v oyaat.
Taylor, 'breathe and blow in unison'. de.
Laws 741 d, o ov ... . a. ,~ T
yaoa0OV
X~v
vyXaveL VraAat&a
rVapolptav '6it aral
ITOTE KCLK09 LV. o•
Laws 804 d, AA T AeYcydvov vf3paivr'w' Ka&ra a Kr England, 'a
7• swVV•T.
proverbial expression like our "every mother's son" '.
Laws968e, 7TAEydEvov ... v KOLVW KaC W EOLKEVKEZG0aL.
pMtC
There appears to be discoverable a further class of phrase, not explicitly cited by
Plato as proverbial, but to be described as semi-proverbs, or perhaps as 'familiar
sayings'; these would belong again, one may assume, to current conversational usage.
Although some of these semi-proverbs can only be a matter of personal conjecture,
some are repeated by Plato and some have analogies elsewhere, while special indica-
tions of emphasis (to be dealt with below) may lead to others.
While Plato's introduction of proverbs as such is specially characteristic of the
later dialogues, the semi-proverbs now to be considered are more evenly distributed
over his work as a whole.
Here, again, we may begin with some sayings or phraseswhich occurmore than once:
KaVYra&s yVOL7,etc.
Euthyd. 279 d, 70ro70 8 K2V yaVO l.
raVWL Cf. 301 c, Lys. 205 c, Symp. 204 b.
o3 rdoAe/gov news is good'.
',yyMAAEeL-'your
Phaedr. 242 Y E
b, o1drdOAEdv Cf. Laws 702 d.
d6yy•MELS.
&vap ITAor7elV.
Lys. 218 c, KLVsVtwdEOhE
OVap Cf. Theaet. 208 b.
rE•rAoVr)uKE'vaL.
o13Sa/ov^ av7)vaL.

T~Ylarpo'v. Thompson, 'as we say of a beaten horse,

Gorg. 456 b, o0Sa/oDav 'avfa
"he is nowhere"'. Th. compares Soph. Ant. 183. Cf. Phaedo 72 c, and Burnet's note.
4599s.Is I

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114 DOROTHY TARRANT
ovXVoVSrEVELvw Tv Ao'ywv,etc.
Gorg. 519 e, vYvyoDv oavXvosgTElVWTv Adywv. Cf. Prol. 329 a, 8OALXOv Ka'ra'TdVOvUL
o70 Adyov.
KpaTet--'has the best of it'.
Phaedr. 272 b, P 7CTELCOLYVOS Kparei. Thompson (following Heindorf), 'a prover-
p•7
bial phrase for ot trweaore'ov'. Cf. Ef. vii. 343 d, Laws 772 d.
Tim. 54 a, KELVOS 01K •X•p COvtAa'tAos KpaTrE: a play on the meaning of
KpaTrLV.
tAhcs 'TE Kal EtEVpr. This seems an adaptation of a metrical ritual phrase.
Laws 923 b, t`gpets8S )ptyv !AE• TE Kat E/LEtVELSoVTES England, 'in peace
and charity'. Cf. Xen. Cyr. I. 6. 2, Theocr. 5. i8. 7TopE•OLct0.

Rep. 496 e, MeTaKaA978Io09 E rE9 TE a7

KaL V/hevp araAAaME 7rat.
Cf. Phil. 16 a, EVLEvCW w dwa7TEAEAV.

The following are single instances of the type of semi-proverb or familiar saying:
Prot. 340 e, EL'pL
TLs yeAotor laTpspd*. Adam compares
L1pEV0o JtLEtovTobvIoLpa oTOLCto.
KaKOV KaKc ta0O'at.
agZrj TpI•as'yKepan
Euthyd.299 b, &,vT-S -Jp~aaV.
opoV Cf. use Of
v. L. and S. •MEA, &.ia~aCos,
Gorg. 447 c, 481 b, ovt$8v otov To awrov epowrav. Thompson compares Ar. Av.
966, Dem. Mid. ? 46. Perhaps a colloquialism.
Gorg. 497 b, ot~ov a~ 7'/ L7. Thompson says 'proverbial', but the precise
wan•vw
meaning is not clear. Possibly = 'not9your pigeon'.
Gorg. 521 c, OUK
olKAcv SKIaosV KaG v EtaXOO8t ES &Ka07TpLov. (Cf. Rep. 6io e.)
Phaedr. 243 c, iv Irov CVWV t
Ka oveiva ipow-a wpaKOTWV. See
eAEAcVpov
n. varrats
TreOpaTtLT
Thompson's
Rep. 343 a, o. yeaiT f oTE- irpo~arraoVoe oT0LLeva
yLtyV KEPL'.Adam, 'clearly a half-
proverbial expression borrowed from the nursery'.
Rep. 563 d, TdTCdovy". . A.'yELS
/L0L Cf. Callim. Epigr. 34,
ovap. TO31v5V Epov /0Lo.
Rep. 6Io e, orw crwo'ppow rov ... damvrat 70o -Oav•u'tpo. Etvat. (Cf. Gorg. 521 c.)
Theaet. i68 c, awLtKpdaTo" U lLtKpwv.
Theaet. 209 d;i, pv . ..ITePtT0po)7 Twp o 7) • •v 7•taotCVOt8v AVv yot.
Parm. 128 d, vlAE7EL UKVTd.A
... K 71T7-V
TU77vTa Kat I E.
Phil. 58 b, Ta rAa pLL80KEf flovA dvrTalToGtc'WOa
fOVXeLs l•v ElTELY wO VOE oAL7TErv.
Tim. 54 b, T70ToVo L... ..p or"Tow CXOVKETaL tlAt a Ta JOAa. Taylor (n.),
a i•eAMy•e-a
'without dispute'.
Critias io8 c, &AAaydp 6vpov-re.T av3pe.
oVrw a
rpWeraov o-rgeav. The form, with
gnomic aorist, seems clearly proverbial.
Laws 647 d, drwepo. ... ..... o08' av 2jLLSve
. EavTrov irpO apET7v.
Laws 823 e, KAWirEla .. p.
. ylyvo•To
c
7.ov GGXaTovCIe'A0otvo0v oaOL0at.
E•8
A further clue to a few semi-proverbs may perhaps be found. Plato frequently
uses certain phrases of emphasis to point the applicability of some figure or turn of
language. The chief of these are TEXvCir,
cP cAt0rGs, and 7~ Onl, with some allied
forms. (For this usage cf. Burnet on Phaedo 59 a and 66 c.) With certain differences
in use, one of these phrases will justify a quotation, simile, proverb, or some special
wording as suited to the case in hand. (The apologetic use of &ypotKd'Epov, noted
above under 'Colloquialisms', is another method of pointing applicability.)
In most instances the point is obvious. In some others the only explanation of this
kind of emphasis seems to lie in a semi-proverb or familiar saying, which would be
recognized as such and would be felt appropriate to the context.

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 COLLOQUIALISMSAND SEMI-PROVERBS IN PLATO 115
Some examples may first be given of this usage in general, before indicating the
semi-proverbs concerned. The application of the three phrases is very similar, except
that
Wc•
dhlA0s does not appear to introduce a simile or a quotation, nor 7 -v-rt a
simile.
(a) Emphasis on the literal truthof a statement.
6n-
Gorg. 486 c, da'rexvwis (9v dv T
7T'A~ .
L/ov
Rep. 336 c, 4erep Ws &A0&ij
sfloAn ElSe'vat.
Phaedo 107 a, 7r v-r& -uv ad?/vXal
v "A•Sov. Cf. numerous other instances
in Phaedo. eYaov-at

(b) To point the applicability of a proverb. In some cases the explanation is added.
or Aeyo'~evovmay be inserted.
Euthyd. 292 e, drcXv( rA Yoyd'Mevov0 AzdTKdpwvOoytIyveTaL, Kat orep ?AEyov, TO

taov VSL, KTA.

•jtLLV
Phaedr. 256 b, T20v -rpWv TCwv dAq&iS KTA.
7'aAa•tpkrwv
n
ow 'OAvzrrnaKWv,
Rep. 426 e, Tyv' drareep T"YpavTcr'vovav.
dIyvoo.vr7Er~7~.
(c) To point a quotationfrom a poet.
Symp. 179 b, K tC'~7E'SS, 8
rbc Oiwoy,
0L " vos .r. os .
dloLe "Epw . . .
dva,
7rapeXEt.
Symp. 218 e, 7 L8mC.lleOOaLvocts. (See above under 'Poetic
XptaEa XaAKCEtWv
vrT&
Expressions'.)
(d) With a simile or metaphor. otov or dcTEcp is often inserted.
Phaedo 90 c, daneEpEvEMpr aV • Ka KC70oTp eETaL.
rdv•'radaTXVWsT
Laws 732 e, r7ltOvlda •
. .. e.~ civ '8 Ovnp'v v77a
dvcdyK71 ov re4~cs
d 10V
oto0v
Kat EKKpqattLEVOV , prIrLOa,•E
EtvcL.

(e) To point theprecise applicabilityof a word,frequentlywith a play on the meaning.

Examples of this sort will be considered below under 'Word-play'; but some (particu-
larly with cs aA4tOcZ)give merely a referenceback to a previous use as now confirmed.
Gorg.519 d, a cTAOcas 8 ev. (494d, drecxv-S
8-•yopEZS.)
•yop
Phaedo 64 b, otta. os...TOOS7oAAois . . .vpva&~ av .... & iT
70 vrn&ofAloaofoo3v-1eS
Oava-rw-rt.
The following instances may now be examined as suggesting semi-proverbs or
familiar sayings:
Euthyd. 303 e, rE<Xvs ve 7 aovT-rLv vppdrppa7TErTEa 7-r av0porroy'.
Rep. 443 d, T7 VT&rdTolKEitaE 0'LEvov---'setting his own house in order'.
Rep. 474 a, TAv,0& TwOado'lcvo 8c(')es 81iyv. (Cf. Hipp. Ma. 290 a, E
CKat
a similar suggestion of an unusual or extra emphatic word.)rrvvwPerhaps,
TwoOdaerat--
'you'll get told off for your pains'. This may belong to 'Colloquialisms'.
Rep. 533 d, T0 v-r&, v fopodpp' apflappaptK LV&... KaTOpwptvy/.LVOv,
KTA. A rather
puzzling instance; the reference is no doubt Orphic, as Adam says, and a current
catch-phrase may be suspected.
Rep. 548 a, rEpefld'Aov VoX Islag. The human application of
l olK77•Wev, -rEv voTTL&•S
VeoTrds and Vor'rov is illustrated by L. and S. from drama, e.g. Eur. Alc. 403, Ar. Av.
767; Com. Adesp. 873, Cf. Ar. Nub. 999. It looks as
if VEoTmal ZStat,'privateveo..la •rEIKvwv. VEOTTOTp'ogeEcTal,
love-nests', may be a bit of current usage.
Theaet. 146 b, 7i ydp O. 47v•e•d7rITS e'S icay
lSover
Xiv e. For the sentiment cf.
Prot. 328 d and Rep. 536 d.
Cf. also Phaedo 66 c, caTE TO AeydEoVovd a rlts 7& 'C7 OV'T OL1SE #poviaat
- aLioU1
7ptLLWEyylyveraL oi38'v. This has already been included above, under proverbs
oU8rrioTE
quoted by Plato only.

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116 DOROTHY TARRANT
4. Word-play---methods and typical examples
Plato's instinct for word-play--or, more generally stated, for the precise applica-
tion of language-is a strongly marked influence on his style. Its effect ranges from
the merely obvious and intended pun (e.g. on a proper name) to assonance of various
types, playful essays in etymology (cf. Cratyluspassim), and a variety of suggestions
of analogy, emphasis, contrast, and so forth, designed to bring out some special or
some double equivalence of words to ideas. His word-play (like his use of figurative
language in general) is more often explicit, and in some way pointed and underlined,
than merely passing and unemphatic.
The uses of &T-EXv?, dS c&AmOGCS,and 7~
w 1r,already noted above, are here again in
point. With them go some similar devices-the use of otVK ... iAA ... to mark a
contrast between the more usual and the here applicable word or sense; the coupling
of a figurative or equivocal word with its paraphrase in meaning; the addition of an
actual explanation of the phrase (quotation, proverb, or special wording) used. All
these devices are found applied to word-play.
While no attempt is here made to give a complete list or even a fully representative
selection of Plato's plays on words, some examples under these various heads may be
set down and studied.
(a) Puns.
Prot. 336 b, o0 KaAT A'tyEL, j KaAAIa. Cf. 362 a, KaMIa KaAj.
Prot. 361 d, 7pe~E ... ... & .. . 7•
iov rrpoL. pd;tVOS Kal KrA.
17poi•OEv'
Ov•ot•EVOSJ,
Gorg. 463 e, 1H7Aos~8eO'8 veos EU Katci s g.
d-
Symp. 198 c, '9oo/VL77V j o ... roopyLOv ... 7#t/Iag, av•tv ~E A)lov -r-
,KEaAqVV

Rep. 494 d, aXr~taTLratoi3

Katipo KEVO aVev vo
iVO A quotation
jtaros~o
from some tragic source leads to what is surely a pun on dtqLrArt•evov.
the syllable vo0. The words
aven vo6, being found in all the manuscripts, cannot be dismissed as a gloss. See
Adam's note.
(b) Assonance.
Gorg. 467 b, U AC-OTE
•17Ac.
Rep. 495 e, vcwo7-r 6LvdK8cTpLiv
AEAvp•'vov, &vflaAavdw Se AEAovtLe&ov.
Rep. 498 d-e, oi3 yap 77 TroVTETSov YEVojLEvo Vo ,&AAa troAb
vv' AEy4pLEVOV, MvtAAov
7rotawr J TarrapLa a iEE7wr7)SES &AA4Aots ;touti4LEe a, JAA' 0UK adro' vaTo/aTov O WTTEp
8 Ka
vLv avL7TEdVTa- avspa aedperi wap7tLWEVOV wLOLW•L•VOV. .. . OV•W7TOTEEWpaKaULV.
An interesting example, in which an ostensibly accidental assonance is pointed by
reference to rhetorical devices, and the technical terms are then applied to avSpaand
dperg in genuine word-play.
Rep. 614 b, aAA' .... AAKlvovyea rd'AoyovP, (bXA' ,v dvspd', KhA.
o. .. AK•'LOV
Theaet. 171 c, dyav . rov etamZpdvtZov KaTraEOtev. A"a .. j 7nAov El Ka1rapa-
-ro dpOdv.
ope•rv
(c) Etymologyin word-play.
Rep. 509 d, d- 8' ai dparoo, rva /tg o3pavoDEtrrv ao& ao lgEcOa& 7ept
b
See Adam's note. 8~ow OIvoiLa.

Rep. 614 b, 'Hp 'Appevov, 7vylvos Hcqa 'Aov. This is surely intended to
700.o
convey that Er is 'Everyman'.
The Cratylus is the obvious source for many more examples. A few are added
below under other heads.
(d) Emphasis with aeXVr6vS, etc. to point word-play.
Gorg. 525 c, 7apaSely~ata EKELEl A8sov ... Kal
TheaiE•xvwS
senses of 'specimens''arIpmtLEovV
and 'warnings' combined. .OEa/Laa
vov?rqp~tara.

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 COLLOQUIALISMS AND SEMI-PROVERBS IN PLATO 117
Phaedo 66 c, already cited. oi~v8#povijaa involves clearly a play between a popular
sense, 'one can't so much as think', and the philosophic meaning.
Phaedo 80 d, E~S ... aEda87,elS "ASov wj dXi~OAq, Cf. the same play
toeo-0rov ,rrov KrA.
(etymological) at Phaedo 81 c, Gorg.493 b.
Phaedo 99 c, KalG dsaAq1w 7-o ayaOv Kat 8EovamTvV8V
KaS ovvEXEtVoL8eVotovrat.
-
Rep. 376 a-b, rodOo T . .. .AA
, ai w8oKp&vEt
eAdaofov ... ...
.w...
1 TI7v LEVKaTaLaOEWV, rv o.;,Ev•
8~ yvoijaa&. Etymologizing on the word tAd'aooog.
-
Rep. 473 c, ELKa~&4LEA 7~aTEXVW.TWO7TEp KvLa EKyEAWV Kat cd0oa KaTaKALcELV. A
simile in appearance, but the point seems to be the play between and a special
use of EKyEAd,for which cf. Eur. Tro. 1176, EIKyEAa^ yeAw•
6OvoS.
Rep. 511 b, ~aS07TOO~EE720toLoeoVOS~ oV. K pxdS,&AA~ OV7TW•OtOELSa,otov 7TladEL
T
7E Kal optLs. The etymology of 57Tro0'Eacemphasized and supported by synonyms.
Theaet. 161 a, Ad'Aoydos y' et d-ErXV . .. TL-tLE otet Adoywv Twd
v-tlvaof Ov'AaKOV.
Theaet. 179 e, ydp KaTd 7a (sc. 'HpaKAE1TELOL).
Tim. 40 a, T7vd•-EXVJ.S aviyypatia•la7a epov'7at
ovdpavov. . . . KOdaLOOV A770wv ag wrytoE7O•oLKLALEvov dvat KaO'jAov.
Here (cf. use of points the double sense of .
KOa/LpS. For &A~VOw6S
&A•qO&vO'v o, &A0X0cW)
in emphasis cf. Tim. 25 a.
(e) Contrast (oK . C.aa..
.. .) to point word-play.
Rep. 487 c, av EppaQS,03K v V t)OLS,A' EdAyo'L.
vrro
rO•TETTEla UK 7aVmT7S~T&vo• v
Rep. 521 c, 70O70 . .O. o )o-rpKOV EL7 r7EPLOTrpo#7,dlaAA#XT rEptLayy )
v
Epta
VVKTEpLVJS7roT VOS TL7paS Aq&vv. A play between the literal 7epLa-rporo4and the
figurative reptaywy4, with an added play derived from the game vvbepipa.
Rep. 614 b, o' ... 'AAKvov ... dAA'aAK&LOV, KTA. See above.
Tim. 54 a, EKEZVO. OK v &2LAA(1 LAos KpaTEZ.
A play between the literal
of and t1'pOp•r
its conversational use as in other
meaning KpaLEre examples given above.
5 w
Tim. 90 a, 70ro0 ...
o a.Ev . .. a7&ry~S T7LaS~ atpLtv Jvras o• #vTO% K EyyELOV dLAA
o3pdvaov. The figurative expression orvTv is immediately made explicit-
EKEZOEV ... TO
EtOV rnv 7V Kal pCav
- tWVopdvpwov POl 7Tav Td criea.
KEA VwaKpqtepVVV

(f) Paraphrase and explanation of word-play.

Gorg. 472 b, e7T&XepelS CEEK r'T1sov3aa
EK1d%)AVEw 70ToD0Aq8ooS.The play on
Ka•
ovala is clear.
alT a
Rep. 597 e, rp&To•'•r dre Ka' T7^ dA7OelaS7TE#vKKWS. For interpretation
a•AEw
see Adam's n. and his a reference to the Persian
Appendix; probably proverbial king.
Further search may no doubt add fresh examples and confirm the impression of
easy conversational usage controlled and adapted by conscious art. Plato's style is
his own. But it seems legitimate to infer also, from these elements in his writing,
something of the habits of speech current in his city and time.
DOROTHYTARRANT.
BEDFORDCOLLEGE,
LONDON.

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