a. The word �w may be used as a conjunction with a verb in the indicative, meaning "as," e.g.:
s�frvn �st�n � ne�niaw, �w �mo� doke� / �w �oike / �w l�getai
The young man is sensible, as it seems to me /as it seems /as it is said.

b. As a conjunction used with the indicative, �w may also mean when, e.g.:
�w �f�konto, t�n do�lon �k�lesan.
When they arrived, they called the slave.

c. When introducing an indirect statement, �w is a conjunction meaning "that" and is equivalent to �ti, e.g.:
e�pen � �ggelow �w p�reisin o� pr�sbeiw.
The messenger said that the ambassadors were present.

d. As an adverb, �w may modify an adjective or another adverb and mean "how," e.g.:
�ya�mazon �w tax�vw tr�xousin o� pa�dew.
I was surprised how quickly the boys ran.

e. Prepositional phrases may be used with �w to express purpose, e.g.:
� �Arx�damow per� t�w �Axarn�w �w �w m�xhn taj�menow �meine.
Archidamus stayed around Acharnae drawn up as for battle (i.e., for the purpose of fighting).

f. A future participle may be introduced by �w to express purpose, e.g.:
pareskeu�zonto �w polem�sontew.
They were preparing themselves to make war (literally, as being about to make war).

g. A participle may also be used with �w to express alleged cause, e.g.:
t�n nean�an �k�lasan �w �dik�santa.
They punished the young man for having done wrong.

t�n g�ronta o�kt�rousin �w main�menon.
They pity the old man as being mad.

h. With a superlative adjective or adverb, �w means "as . . . as possible," e.g.:
�w ple�stoi
as many as possible
�w t�xista
as quickly as possible

�

Text: Balme and Lawall, Athenaze, Book II (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991), page 171.

Background Image: Leiden Papyrus no. 22, upper part of one column, containing Plato, Phaedo 65a. Written 1st century CE. From Van Groningen, Short Manual of Greek Palaeography (Leiden: Sijthoff, 1967), Plate II.