Zenobius 5.55

Not even within striking distance

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English

Proverb

Not even within striking distance

Explanation

iktar signifies "near"; that is, "not even near." It is said as a foreign word, just as diolygion "evil" means "great." Plato mentions both — diolygion in the Theaetetus, iktar ballein in the Republic.

Greek

Proverb

Οὐδ’ ἴκταρ βάλλειν

Explanation

τὸ ἴκταρ σημαίνει ἐγγύς· τουτέστιν οὐδὲ ἐγγύς ἐστιν· εἴρηται δὲ κατὰ γλῶτταν, ὥςπερ τὸ Διωλύγιον κακὸν σημαίνει τὸ μέγα. Μέμνηται δὲ ἀμφοτέρων ὁ Πλάτων. τοῦ μὲν διωλύγιον ἐν Θεαιτήτῳ, τοῦ δ’ ἴκταρ βάλλειν ἐν Πολιτείᾳ.

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0098.tlg001.1st1K-grc1:5.55