dative of φύσει to mean "by nature" ?

Here you can discuss all things Ancient Greek. Use this board to ask questions about grammar, discuss learning strategies, get help with a difficult passage of Greek, and more.
Post Reply
Asterisk1234
Textkit Member
Posts: 159
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2019 7:19 pm
Location: Toronto

dative of φύσει to mean "by nature" ?

Post by Asterisk1234 »

M. unit 21, exercise II.5 is to translate "Lions are by nature strong and terrible, ..."
The answer key gives: "οἱ λέοντες φύσει ισχυροι και δεινοι εισιν..."
"φθσει" is the dative singular of "nature". I've reviewed "uses of the dative" in M., (p.87-88), but I can't find a fit for this translation, except perhaps "dative of means", but it seems far-fetched.
Please comment.
Thanks to all.
ὁ Βίος Χαλεπός

wilberfloss
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2019 9:57 pm
Location: The Wirral. England.

Re: dative of φύσει to mean "by nature" ?

Post by wilberfloss »

The dative singular of phusis means 'by nature' (Middle Liddell).

Asterisk1234
Textkit Member
Posts: 159
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2019 7:19 pm
Location: Toronto

Re: dative of φύσει to mean "by nature" ?

Post by Asterisk1234 »

wilberfloss wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2020 7:49 pm The dative singular of phusis means 'by nature' (Middle Liddell).
Thanks - Mastronarde does not mention the "by" part in the vocabulary.

But I remain puzzled by the sentence construction. It's as if the word was an adverb, i.e., "naturally". And why does it have to be dative?
ὁ Βίος Χαλεπός

markcmueller
Textkit Member
Posts: 164
Joined: Sat May 12, 2018 11:43 am
Location: New Hampshire

Re: dative of φύσει to mean "by nature" ?

Post by markcmueller »

It seems a bit unfair of Mastronarde to throw this at you, but you can find the answer in Smyth. In 1516 he says "The dative of manner may denote the particular point of view from which a statement is made. This occurs chiefly with intransitive adjectives but also with intransitive verbs (Dative of Respect)."

One of his examples: ἀσθενὴς τῷ σώματι (weak in body) seems like a similar usage.

Post Reply