σοφιστής
σοφις-τής,
οῦ,
ὁ,
A). master of one's craft, adept, expert, of diviners,
Hdt. 2.49 ; of poets,
μελέταν σοφισταῖς πρόσβαλον Pi. I. 5(4).28 , cf.
Cratin. 2 ; of musicians,
σοφιστὴς .. παραπαίων χέλυν A. Fr. 314 , cf.
Eup. 447 ,
Pl.Com. 140 ;
σοφιστῇ Θρῃκί (sc. Thamyris)
E. Rh. 924 , cf.
Ath. 14.632c : with modal words added,
οἱ ς. τῶν ἱερῶν μελῶν Ael. NA 11.1 ; of the Creator of the universe (
ὁ δημιουργός)
, πάνυ θαυμαστὸν λέγεις ς.
Pl. R. 596d ; of cooks,
εἰς τοὺς ς. τὸν μάγειρον ἐγγράφω Alex. 149.14 , cf.
Euphro 1.11 ;
οἱ τὴν ἱππείαν ς.
skilled in ..,
Ael. NA 13.9 : metaph.,
ς. πημάτων deviser, contriver of pains,
E. Heracl. 993 :—then,
2). wise, prudent or
statesmanlike man, in which sense the seven Sages are called
σοφισταί,
Hdt. 1.29 , cf.
Isoc. 15.235 ,
Arist. Fr. 5 ,
D. 61.50 ; of Pythagoras,
Hdt. 4.95 ; of natural philosophers,
Hp. VM 20 ; of Isocrates and Plato,
D.H. Comp. 25 ; of the
Βραχμᾶνες,
Arr. An. 6.16.5 , cf.
γυμνοσοφισταί; freq. with a slightly iron. sense,
ἵνα μάθῃ ς. ὢν Διὸς νωθέστερος A. Pr. 62 , cf.
944 ;
ψυχή .. κρείσσων σοφιστοῦ παντὸς εὑρέτις S. Fr. 101 , cf.
E. Hipp. 921 : prov.,
μισῶ σοφιστὴν ὅτις οὐχ αὑτῷ σοφός Id. Fr. 905 : of the philosophic
sage,
Aristid. 2.311 J. II). from late v B.C.,
a Sophist, i.e.
one who gave lessons in grammar, rhetoric, politics, mathematics,
for money, such as Prodicus, Gorgias, Protagoras,
τὴν σοφίαν τοὺς ἀργυρίου τῷ βουλομένῳ πωλοῦντας σοφιστὰς ἀποκαλοῦσιν X. Mem. 1.6.13 , cf.
Cyn. 13.8 ,
Th. 3.38 ,
Pl. Prt. 31 3c ,
Euthd. 271c ,
La. 186c ,
Men. 85b ,
Isoc. 15.148 ,
Arist. SE 165a22 ;
ς. ἄχρηστοι καὶ βίου δεόμενοι Lys. 33.3 ; but sts. even of Socrates (though he did not teach for money),
Aeschin. 1.173 ; so of Christ,
Luc. Peregr. 13 : hence (from the ill repute of the professed sophists at Athens),
3). later of the ῥήτορες, Professors of Rhetoric, and prose writers of the Empire, such as Philostratus and Libanius, Suid.; Ἀπολλωνίδῃ σοφιστῇ PLips. 97 X 18 (iv A.D.); freq. as a title in epitaphs, IG 3.625 , 637 , 680 , 775 , 14.935 .
ShortDef
a master of one's craft
Debugging
Headword (normalized):
σοφιστής
Headword (normalized/stripped):
σοφιστης
URN:
urn:cite2:scaife-viewer:dictionary-entries.atlas_v1:lsj-95648
Data
{'content': '<div class="entry"> <span class="orth greek">σοφις-τής</span>, <span class="itype greek">οῦ</span>, <span class="gen greek">ὁ</span>, <div style="margin-top: 1.0em;" class="sense depth-1"> <span><strong>A).</strong></span> <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">master of one\'s craft, adept, expert</span>, of diviners, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.perseus-grc1:2:49" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.perseus-grc1:2.49/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Hdt.</span> 2.49 </a>; of poets, <span class="quote greek">μελέταν σοφισταῖς πρόσβαλον</span> <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0033.tlg004.perseus-grc1:5(4).28" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0033.tlg004.perseus-grc1:5(4).28/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Pi.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">I.</span> 5(4).28 </a> , cf. <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0434.tlg001:2" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0434.tlg001:2/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Cratin.</span> 2 </a>; of musicians, <span class="quote greek">σοφιστὴς .. παραπαίων χέλυν</span> <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg008:314" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg008:314/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">A.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Fr.</span> 314 </a> , cf. <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0461.tlg001:447" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0461.tlg001:447/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Eup.</span> 447 </a>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0497.tlg001:140" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0497.tlg001:140/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Pl.Com.</span> 140 </a>; <span class="foreign greek">σοφιστῇ Θρῃκί</span> (sc. Thamyris) <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg019.perseus-grc1:924" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg019.perseus-grc1:924/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">E.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Rh.</span> 924 </a>, cf. <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0008.tlg001.perseus-grc1:14:632c" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0008.tlg001.perseus-grc1:14.632c/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Ath.</span> 14.632c </a>: with modal words added, <span class="quote greek">οἱ ς. τῶν ἱερῶν μελῶν</span> <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0545.tlg001:11:1" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0545.tlg001:11.1/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Ael.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">NA</span> 11.1 </a> ; of the Creator of the universe (<span class="etym greek">ὁ δημιουργός</span>)<span class="foreign greek">, πάνυ θαυμαστὸν λέγεις ς</span>. <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg030.perseus-grc1:596d" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg030.perseus-grc1:596d/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Pl.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">R.</span> 596d </a>; of cooks, <span class="quote greek">εἰς τοὺς ς. τὸν μάγειρον ἐγγράφω</span> <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0402.tlg001:149:14" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0402.tlg001:149.14/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Alex.</span> 149.14 </a> , cf. <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0460.tlg001:1:11" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0460.tlg001:1.11/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Euphro</span> 1.11 </a>; <span class="foreign greek">οἱ τὴν ἱππείαν ς</span>. <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">skilled in ..</span>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0545.tlg001:13:9" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0545.tlg001:13.9/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Ael.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">NA</span> 13.9 </a>: metaph., <span class="foreign greek">ς. πημάτων</span> <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">deviser, contriver</span> of pains, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg004.perseus-grc1:993" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg004.perseus-grc1:993/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">E.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Heracl.</span> 993 </a>:—then, </div> <div style="margin-top: 1.0em;" class="sense depth-3"> <span><strong>2).</strong></span> <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">wise, prudent</span> or <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">statesmanlike man</span>, in which sense the seven Sages are called <span class="foreign greek">σοφισταί</span>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.perseus-grc1:1:29" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.perseus-grc1:1.29/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Hdt.</span> 1.29 </a>, cf. <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0010.tlg019.perseus-grc1:235" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0010.tlg019.perseus-grc1:235/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Isoc.</span> 15.235 </a>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg051:5" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg051:5/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Arist.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Fr.</span> 5 </a>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0014.tlg061.perseus-grc1:50" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0014.tlg061.perseus-grc1:50/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">D.</span> 61.50 </a>; of Pythagoras, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.perseus-grc1:4:95" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.perseus-grc1:4.95/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Hdt.</span> 4.95 </a>; of natural philosophers, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0627.tlg001.perseus-grc1:20" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0627.tlg001.perseus-grc1:20/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Hp.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">VM</span> 20 </a>; of Isocrates and Plato, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0081.tlg012:25" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0081.tlg012:25/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">D.H.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Comp.</span> 25 </a>; of the <span class="foreign greek">Βραχμᾶνες</span>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0074.tlg001:6:16:5" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0074.tlg001:6:16:5/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Arr.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">An.</span> 6.16.5 </a>, cf. <span class="foreign greek">γυμνοσοφισταί</span>; freq. with a slightly iron. sense, <span class="quote greek">ἵνα μάθῃ ς. ὢν Διὸς νωθέστερος</span> <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg003.perseus-grc1:62" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg003.perseus-grc1:62/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">A.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Pr.</span> 62 </a> , cf. <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg003.perseus-grc1:944" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg003.perseus-grc1:944/canonical-url/"> 944 </a>; <span class="quote greek">ψυχή .. κρείσσων σοφιστοῦ παντὸς εὑρέτις</span> <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0011.tlg008.perseus-grc1:101" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0011.tlg008.perseus-grc1:101/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">S.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Fr.</span> 101 </a> , cf. <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg005.perseus-grc1:921" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0006.tlg005.perseus-grc1:921/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">E.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Hipp.</span> 921 </a>: prov., <span class="quote greek">μισῶ σοφιστὴν ὅτις οὐχ αὑτῷ σοφός</span> <span class="bibl"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Id.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Fr.</span> 905 </span> : of the philosophic <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">sage</span>, <span class="bibl"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Aristid.</span> 2.311 </span> <span class="bibl"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">J.</span> </span> </div> <div style="margin-top: 1.0em;" class="sense depth-2"> <span><strong>II).</strong></span> from late v B.C., <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">a Sophist</span>, i.e. <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">one who gave lessons</span> in grammar, rhetoric, politics, mathematics, <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">for money</span>, such as Prodicus, Gorgias, Protagoras, <span class="quote greek">τὴν σοφίαν τοὺς ἀργυρίου τῷ βουλομένῳ πωλοῦντας σοφιστὰς ἀποκαλοῦσιν</span> <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0032.tlg002.perseus-grc1:1:6:13" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0032.tlg002.perseus-grc1:1:6:13/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">X.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Mem.</span> 1.6.13 </a> , cf. <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0032.tlg014.perseus-grc1:13:8" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0032.tlg014.perseus-grc1:13.8/canonical-url/"> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Cyn.</span> 13.8 </a>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.perseus-grc1:3:38" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.perseus-grc1:3.38/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Th.</span> 3.38 </a>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg022:31" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg022:31/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Pl.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Prt.</span> 31 </a> <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg022:3c" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg022:3c/canonical-url/"> 3c </a>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg021:271c" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg021:271c/canonical-url/"> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Euthd.</span> 271c </a>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg019:186c" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg019:186c/canonical-url/"> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">La.</span> 186c </a>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg024:85b" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg024:85b/canonical-url/"> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Men.</span> 85b </a>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0010.tlg019.perseus-grc1:148" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0010.tlg019.perseus-grc1:148/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Isoc.</span> 15.148 </a>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg039:165a:22" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg039:165a.22/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Arist.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">SE</span> 165a22 </a>; <span class="quote greek">ς. ἄχρηστοι καὶ βίου δεόμενοι</span> <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0540.tlg033.perseus-grc1:3" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0540.tlg033.perseus-grc1:3/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lys.</span> 33.3 </a> ; but sts. even of Socrates (though he did not teach for money), <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0026.tlg001.perseus-grc1:173" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0026.tlg001.perseus-grc1:173/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Aeschin.</span> 1.173 </a>; so of Christ, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0062.tlg042:13" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0062.tlg042:13/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Luc.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Peregr.</span> 13 </a>: hence (from the ill repute of the professed sophists at Athens), </div> <div style="margin-top: 1.0em;" class="sense depth-3"> <span><strong>2).</strong></span> <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">sophist</span> (in bad sense), <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">quibbler, cheat</span>, <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0019.tlg003.perseus-grc1:331" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0019.tlg003.perseus-grc1:331/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Ar.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Nu.</span> 331 </a>,<a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0019.tlg003.perseus-grc1:1111" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0019.tlg003.perseus-grc1:1111/canonical-url/"> 1111 </a>, al., <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg007.perseus-grc1:268d" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0059.tlg007.perseus-grc1:268d/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Pl.</span> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">Sph.</span> 268d </a>; <span class="quote greek">γόητα καὶ σοφιστὴν ὀνομάζων</span> <a class="bibl" target="_blank" data-urn="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0014.tlg018.perseus-grc1:276" href="https://catalog-api-dev.scaife.eldarion.com/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0014.tlg018.perseus-grc1:276/canonical-url/"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">D.</span> 18.276 </a> . </div> <div style="margin-top: 1.0em;" class="sense depth-3"> <span><strong>3).</strong></span> later of the <span class="foreign greek">ῥήτορες</span>, <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">Professors of Rhetoric</span>, and <span class="tr" style="font-weight: bold;">prose writers</span> of the Empire, such as Philostratus and Libanius, <span class="bibl"> <span class="author" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Suid.</span></span>; <span class="quote greek">Ἀπολλωνίδῃ σοφιστῇ</span> <span class="bibl"> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">PLips.</span> 97 </span> X <span class="bibl"> 18 </span> (iv A.D.); freq. as a title in epitaphs, <span class="bibl"> <span class="title" style="font-style: italic;">IG</span> 3.625 </span>,<span class="bibl"> 637 </span>,<span class="bibl"> 680 </span>,<span class="bibl"> 775 </span>, <span class="bibl"> 14.935 </span>.</div> </div><br><br>'}