Dictionary entry

G02965

An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon Keyed to Strong's Numbers

κύων

I. "a dog or bitch", Hom., etc.; most commonly of "hounds", id=Hom., etc.; the Laconian breed was famous, Soph.;— νή or μὰ τὸν κύνα was the favourite oath of Socrates, Plat.: cf. τραπεζεύς.

II. as "a word of reproach", to denote "shamelessness or audacity" in women, "rashness, recklessness" in men, Hom.

2. at Athens a nickname of the Cynics, Arist., Anth.

III. the Trag. apply the term to the ministers of the gods; the eagle is Διὸς πτηνὸς κύων Aesch.; the griffins Ζηνὸς ἀκραγεῖς κύνες id=Aesch.; the Bacchantes Λύσσης κ. Eur., etc.

IV. "a sea-dog", mentioned as a fish in Od.

V. "the dog-star", i. e. "the dog of Orion", placed among the stars with its master, Il.