From the book
Lysis
Plato · Diotimos Editions · 2026
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At a Glance
- The wordHestiaō means entertain at a meal; in the middle, feast or enjoy a banquet.
- In LysisCtesippus asks why Socrates and Lysis are feasting all by themselves instead of sharing their conversation.
- Reading contextIt also brings the private whisper between Socrates and Lysis back into the hearing of the larger group.
- A place to readThe Greek example means “you two feast all by yourselves.”
- English renderings
- Entertain at a meal; in the middle, feast or enjoy a banquet
Meaning
Entertain at a meal; in the middle, feast or enjoy a banquet.
Grammatical category: verb.
Use in the book
Ctesippus asks why Socrates and Lysis are feasting all by themselves instead of sharing their conversation. The second-person dual ἑστιᾶσθον addresses the two together and makes their private exchange into a metaphorical banquet.
No actual meal is being described at this point. The figure treats conversation as something pleasurable and shareable, returning to the opening offer to share the wrestling-school’s talk. It also brings the private whisper between Socrates and Lysis back into the hearing of the larger group.