G03189

μέλας

Etym. cf. τάλας, the only word like it in form

I. "black, swart", Hom., etc.; μέλαν ὕδωρ of water drawn from a deep well (cf. μελάνυδρος), Od.

II. "black, dark, murky", ἕσπερος, νύξ Hom., etc.

III. metaph. "black, dark", θάνατος, Κήρ, the origin of the metaphor being seen in such phrases as μέλαν νέφος θανάτοιο, Hom.

2. "dark, obscure", Anth.

IV. comp. μελάντερος, η, ον, "blacker, very black", Il.; cf. ἠΰτε.

V. μέλαν, v. sub voc.