3 ms·
Not a term, but I’ve always found the fact that AG had two terms that map to nothing, e.g. my two favorite sayings: “toi sophoi xenon ouden” (the wise man is fo
by Jun8 3y ago
Not a term, but I’ve always found the fact that AG had two terms that map to nothing, e.g. my two favorite sayings: “toi sophoi xenon ouden” (the wise man is foreign to nothing) and “meden agan” (nothing in excess), one of the three Delphic Maxims: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphic_maxims https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphic_maxims
- kgeist 3y agoAncient Greek has two negation particles: >Ou is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. Mê is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As ou negates fact and statement; mê rejects, οu denies; mê is relative, ou absolute; mê subjective, ou objective. The particles are found in the two words for "nothing" you mentioned, ouden/meden. Meden is usually found in imperatives, oaths, i.e. something you want to never happen, while ouden simply states that something never happens.