LogeionPerseus analysis of ἐπέεσσιν:
ἔπος (vácas): neut dat pl (epic)
LSJ entry
ἔπος
ἔπος,
older ϝέπος SIG 9
(v. infr.), etc., εος, τό (Skt. I. word, παύρῳ ἔπει in short utterance, Pi. O. 13.98 ;
ἐπέων κόσμος Parm. 8.52,
Democr. 21 ;
ἔπους σμικροῦ χάριν S. OC 443 ;
λόγοι ἔπεσι κοσμηθέντες Th. 3.67 :
generally, that which is uttered in words, speech, tale, ἔπος ἐρέειν Il. 3.83,
etc.; φάσθαι Xenoph. 7.3,
Parm. 1.23,
etc.; joined with μῦθος, Od. 4.597,
11.561.—Special uses, 6. word, opp. deed, ἔπεʼ ἀκράαντα words of none effect, opp. ἔτυμα, Od. 19.565,
cf. E. HF 111 (lyr.); opp. ἔργον, Il. 15.234,
Od. 2.272,
etc., cf. II.1 ;
αἴτε ϝέπος αἴτε ϝάργον SIG 9
(Elis, vi B.C.);
opp. βίη, Il. 15.106 ;
opp. χεῖρες, 1.77 (pl.). 4. ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν almost, practically, qualifying a too absolute expression, esp. with πᾶς and οὐδείς (not with metaphors), Pl. Ap. 17a,
Phd. 78e,
Grg. 456a,
al., Arist. Metaph. 1009b16,
Pol. 1252b29,
D. 9.47,
etc. ;
opp. ὄντως or ἀκριβεῖ λόγῳ, Pl. Lg. 656e,
R. 341b ;
later ὡς ἔ. ἐστὶν εἰπεῖν POxy. 67.14(iv A.D.) ;
in Trag., ὡς εἰπεῖν ἔ. A. Pers. 714(troch.), E. Heracl. 167,
Hipp. 1162,
once in Pl.,Lg. 967b(s.v.l.). IV. in pl., epic poetry, opp. μέλη (lyric poetry), ἰαμβεῖα, διθύραμβοι, etc., ῥαπτῶν ἐπέων ἀοιδοί Pi. N. 2.2 ;
τὰ Κύπρια ἔπεα Hdt. 2.117,
cf. Th. 1.3,
X. Mem. 1.4.3,
Pl. R. 379a,
etc. ;
ἔπεά τε ποιεῖν πρὸς λύραν τʼ ἀείδειν Theoc. Ep. 21.6 ;
νικήσας ἔπος IG 3.1020 ;
ποητὴς ἐπῶν ib.7.3197.9 (Orchom. Boeot.),
cf. OGI 51.37
(Egypt, iii B.C.).
c. lines, verses, esp. of spoken lines in the drama, Ar. Ra. 862,
956,
etc. :
sg., verse, line of poetry, Hdt. 4.29,
Pl. Min. 319d ;
group of verses, Id. R. 386c,
Hdt. 7.143.