Dictionary entry

G02974

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

κωφός

Alt. κωφός, ή, όν

Etym. κόπτω

I. radical sense, "blunt, dull, obtuse", κωφὸν βέλος "the blunt, dull" shaft, opp. to ὀξύ, Il.

II. metaph.:

1. "dumb, mute", κύματι κωφῷ with "dumb" wave, before it breaks, id=Il.; κωφὴν γαῖαν ἀεικίζει dishonours "the dumb, senseless" earth, id=Il.; τὰ μὲν ἄλλα ἔσκε κωφά the other parts of the ground sounded "dull", opp. to the "ringing" of the hollow parts, Hdt.; ὁ κ. λιμήν, prob. the bay of Munychia, as opp. to the "noisy" Peiraeus, Xen.

2. after Hom., of men, "dumb", Orac. ap. Hdt.: "deaf and dumb", id=Hdt.

3. "deaf", Lat. surdus, Hhymn., Aesch., etc.

4. of the mind, "dull, stupid", Lat. fatuus, Soph.; also "senseless, unmeaning", κ. καὶ παλαί᾽ ἔπη id=Soph.