φημί
Etym. Root ΦΑ, cf. φάω
Etym. the imperf. act. should be ἔφην, like the aor2, but ἔφασκον was generally used instead.
I. Radical sense: "to declare, make known"; and so, "to say, affirm, assert", either absol., or foll. by inf. or by acc.; the inf. is often omitted, σὲ κακὸν καὶ ἀνάλκιδα φήσει (sc. εἶναι) Il.; but also, Κορινθίους τί φῶμεν; what "shall we say" of them? Xen.:—then, since "what one says" commonly expresses a belief or opinion, "to think, deem, suppose", Il.; φαίης κε ζάκοτόν τέ τιν᾽ ἔμμεναι ἄφρονά τε "you would say, would think", he was.., id=Il.; μὴ φαθὶ λεύσσειν "think" not that you see, Theocr.
II. Special Phrases:
1. φασί, "they say, it is said", Hom., attic; but in Prose also φησί, like French "on dit", Dem.; (so Lat. inquit, ait).
2. φημί is sometimes joined with a synon. Verb. e.g. ἔφη λέγων, ἔφησε λέγων Hdt.; λέγει οὐδὲν φαμένη id=Hdt.
3. in repeating dialogues, the Verb commonly goes before its subject, ἔφην ἐγώ, ἔφη ὁ Σωκράτης "said" I, "said" Socrates; but the order is sometimes inverted, ἐγὼ ἔφην, ὁ Σωκράτης ἔφη I "said", Socrates "said".
III. in a more definite sense, like κατάφημι, "to say yes, affirm", Hom., attic; καὶ τοὺς φάναι and they "said yes", Hdt.; καί φημι κἀπόφημι Soph.; whereas οὔ φημι means "to say no, deny, refuse", ἡ Πυθίη οὐκ ἔφη χρήσειν "said" she would "not" answer, Hdt.; ἐὰν μὴ φῆι if he "say no", Ar.; φάθι ἢ μή "say yes or no", Plat.