epí

Alternative forms

• ἐπ’ (ep’) — apocopic, before a smooth breathing
• ἔπι (épi) — stress-shifted
• ἔπ’ (ép’) — stressed apocopic, before a smooth breathing
• ἐτ (et) — Thessalian, before τ
• ἐφ’ (eph’) — apocopic, before a rough breathing

Etymology

From Proto-Hellenic *epí, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi.

Cognate with Sanskrit अपि (ápi), Avestan 𐬀𐬌𐬞𐬌 (aⁱpi), Old Persian 𐎠𐎱𐎡𐎹 (apiy), Old Armenian եւ (ew), Latin ob, and Old English bī (English by).

The genitive is an innovated Greek associative. The dative is from the PIE locative. The accusative is from the pre-PIE directional.

Pronunciation

[ more ▼] 

• IPA^(key): /e.pí/ → /eˈpi/ → /eˈpi/

Preposition

ἐπῐ́ • (epí) (governs the genitive, dative and accusative)

1. [+genitive]
   1. on, upon (on the upper surface of) [ quotations ▼]

      καθέζεται ἐπὶ θρόνου.

1. 1. kathézetai epì thrónou.

      He sits down on a throne.

1. 1. on (supported by) [ quotations ▼]
   2. (mostly post-Homeric) in [ quotations ▼]
   3. at, near [ quotations ▼]
   4. (of ships) at (dependent upon)

      ὁρμεῖν ἐπ’ ἀγκύρας

1. 1. hormeîn ep’ ankúras

      to ride at anchor

1. 1. (with reflexive or personal pronoun) by oneself

      ἐφ’ ἑαυτῶν ἐχώρουν

1. 1. eph’ heautôn ekhṓroun

      They proceeded by themselves.

1. 1. (with numerals, of a body of soldiers) deep [ quotations ▼]

      ἐτάχθησαν ἐπὶ τεττάρων

1. 1. etákhthēsan epì tettárōn

      They formed a line four men deep.

1. 1. (with a person) before (in the presence of) [ quotations ▼]
   2. in the case of; on [ quotations ▼]

      ἐπὶ τῶν πλουσίων […] αἰσθάνομαι

1. 1. epì tôn plousíōn […] aisthánomai

      In the case of the rich, I can see that […]

1. 1. in the time of [ quotations ▼]
   2. (of authority, power, etc.) in [ quotations ▼]

      οἰ έπὶ τῶν πραγμάτων

1. 1. oi épì tôn pragmátōn

      the [men] in power

1. 1. on (an occasion) [ quotations ▼]
2. [+dative]
   1. on, upon [ quotations ▼]

      καθέζεται ἐπὶ θρόνῳ.

1. 1. kathézetai epì thrónōi.

      He sits down on a throne.

1. 1. in [ quotations ▼]
   2. at, near [ quotations ▼]
   3. over [ quotations ▼]
   4. in honor of [ quotations ▼]
   5. against [ quotations ▼]
   6. in addition to, over, besides [ quotations ▼]
   7. (with duplication of head noun) after [ quotations ▼]

      ὄγχνη ἐπ’ ὄγχνῃ γηράσκει

1. 1. ónkhnē ep’ ónkhnēi gēráskei

      One pear after another ripens.

1. 1. in the power of [ quotations ▼]
   2. according to [ quotations ▼]
   3. (of conditions or circumstances) in, with [ quotations ▼]
   4. (of time, never in proper Attic) at, on [ quotations ▼]
   5. (of time) after [ quotations ▼]
   6. (expressing a cause) on account of, for [ quotations ▼]
   7. (expressing a purpose) for [ quotations ▼]
   8. (of a condition) on [ quotations ▼]
   9. for (i.e. in exchange for) [ quotations ▼]
   10. (of a name) for [ quotations ▼]
   11. in charge of [ quotations ▼]
2. [+accusative]
   1. onto (the upper surface of) [ quotations ▼]

      ἀνέβαινεν ἐπὶ τὸν ἵππον

1. 1. anébainen epì tòn híppon

      He got up onto the horse.

1. 1. to [ quotations ▼]
   2. up to, as far as [ quotations ▼]
   3. (with a person) to before, into the presence of [ quotations ▼]
   4. (of an army) deep [ quotations ▼]
   5. to or into a certain side [ quotations ▼]
   6. against [ quotations ▼]
   7. over [ quotations ▼]
   8. (of time) for, during [ quotations ▼]
   9. (of time) up to, until [ quotations ▼]
   10. for (the purpose of) [ quotations ▼]
   11. for (with respect to) [ quotations ▼]
   12. over (in command of) [ quotations ▼]
2. (without a noun) as well, besides (often with δέ (dé)) [ quotations ▼]

For usage in composition, see ἐπι- (epi-).