γόνυ
Etym. the ionic forms γούνατος, -ατι in Trag., but never γουνός, γουνί
I. "the knee", Lat. genu, Hom., etc.
2. ἅψασθαι γούνων to clasp "the knees" as a suppliant, Il.; so ἑλεῖν, λαβεῖν, γούνων id=Il.; τῶν γουνάτων λαβέσθαι Hdt.; περὶ or ἀμφὶ γούνασί τινος χεῖρας βαλεῖν Od.; ἀμφὶ γόνυ τινὸς πίπτειν Eur.; γούνων λίσσεσθαι to supplicate "by [clasping] the knees", Hom.; ἄντεσθαι or λίσσεσθαι πρὸς τῶν γονάτων Eur.
3. of a sitting posture, γόνυ κάμψειν bend "the knee" so as to sit down, Il.:— ἐπὶ γούνασι "on" one's "knees", of a child, id=Il.; πέπλον θεῖναι Ἀθηναίης ἐπὶ γούνασιν to lay it on her "lap" (as an offering), id=Il.; metaph., θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται, i. e. rests on their will and pleasure, Hom.
4. the knees are in Hom. the seat of strength; hence, γούνατά τινος λύειν to weaken, lame, kill him, Il.: also, metaph., ἐς γόνυ βάλλειν to bring down upon "the knee", i. e. to humble, conquer, Hdt.
5. proverb., ἀπωτέρω ἢ γόνυ κνήμη "Charity begins at home, " Theocr.
II. "the knee or joint" of grasses, such as the cane, Lat. geniculum, Hdt., Xen.