κατά

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Of Proto-Indo-European origin. Cognate with Hittite  (katta, “down from, at, with, under”) and perhaps Old Welsh cant (“with”).

Pronunciation

• (5th BC Attic): IPA: /katá/

• (1st BC Egyptian): IPA: /katá/

• (4th AD Koine): IPA: /katá/

• (10th AD Byzantine): IPA: /katá/

• (15th AD Constantinopolitan): IPA: /katá/

Preposition

κατά (+ genitive) (kata)

1. downwards, down from
2. into
3. against

κατά (+ accusative) (kata)

1. downwards
2. along, through, in
3. towards
4. during
5. for, for the purpose of
6. according to, in conformity with

Prefix

κατά (kata)

1. back
2. downwards
3. against
4. fully, completely

References

• LSJ
• BDAG
• Strong’s concordance number: G2596
• Robert S. P. Beekes (2009) Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Brill Academic Publishers)

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Greek

Alternative forms

• κατ'
• καθ'

Preposition

κατά (katá)

1. (with accusative) towards

   το δωμάτιο βλέπει κατά την ανατολή (the room faces east)

2. (with accusative) during

   κατά τη διάρκεια του ταξιδιού (during the trip)

3. (with accusative) around, about, close to

   θα έρθω κατά τις έξι το απόγευμα (I will come at about six pm)

4. (with genitive) versus, against

   Έγινε έγκλημα κατά της Ελλάδας! (Crimes were committed against Greece!)

Synonyms

• (versus): εναντίον