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[303] ἀκ́ηρατον, lit. inviolate, undefiled, from “κηραίνω”. The adj. recurs in 15.498 “οἶκος καὶ κλῆρος ἀκήρατος,” Od. 17.532 “κτήματ᾽ ἀκήρατα κεῖτ᾽ ἐνὶ οἴκωι”, both times = intact; so “ἀκήριος” = unharmed. This is the ordinary sense of the word; for its application to pure water cf. “χεῦμ᾽ ἀκήρατον” Soph. O. C. 471, “ἀκηράτωι σὺν ὄμβρωι” 690. The similarity of “ἄκρητος” early led to confusion with the sense unmixed. Hence we have “οἶνος ἀκηράσιος” Od. 9.205 (perhaps a purely metrical lengthening for “ἀκεράσιος”), and “ἀκήρατον ποτόν” of wine, Aisch. Pers. 613.But this is not the original sense, and is unsuitable here. The close connexion of the ideas injure and stain or adulterate is worked out by Schulze Q. E. 233-36. See also note on 4.141. The scholia and glossaries rightly render “καθαρόν, ἀθόλωτον, ἀμίαντον, ἀδιάφθορον”.

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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hide References (5 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (5):
    • Aeschylus, Persians, 613
    • Homer, Iliad, 15.498
    • Homer, Odyssey, 17.532
    • Homer, Odyssey, 9.205
    • Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, 471
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