From the book
The Orphic Collection, Volume I: The Hymns
Attributed to Orpheus · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordπλείων is comparative, “more,” and τὸ πλέον makes its neuter form a substantive: “the more” or “the larger share.” In these hymns the construction concerns an excess sought over others, not an automatically specified quantity of money.
- In the Orphic HymnsDike confronts those wanting τὸ πλέον through unjust counsels (LXII.7).
- TranslationThe English “larger share” interprets the substantivized comparative helpfully.
- A place to readUnjust desire for the larger share.
- English renderings
- more; the larger share
Meaning
πλείων is comparative, “more,” and τὸ πλέον makes its neuter form a substantive: “the more” or “the larger share.” In these hymns the construction concerns an excess sought over others, not an automatically specified quantity of money. The article and ethical context are essential to the force of the phrase.
Use in the book
Dike confronts those wanting τὸ πλέον through unjust counsels (LXII.7). The object of desire becomes objectionable through the stated injustice of the means and purposes, rather than through an unexplained rule that every increase is wrong. Dikaiosyne then hates τὸ πλέον and rejoices in equality (LXIII.10). Earlier in that hymn, greedy people have tipped heavy scales aside; later, the desired life moves through even balances. The comparative therefore belongs to a sustained picture of unfair advantage and restored proportion. These two neighbouring hymns mutually clarify the phrase without requiring a lost noun for a particular possession.
Places to read
- Hymn LXII · Line 7Unjust desire for the larger share.
- Hymn LXIII · Line 10Excess explicitly opposed to equality.
Translation
The English “larger share” interprets the substantivized comparative helpfully. The abstract noun πλεονεξία may be useful for comparison in a wider ethical discussion, but it is not the Greek word printed at these loci. A reader should be able to retrieve πλέον directly and see how a common comparative acquires a pointed moral meaning from wanting, unjust counsel, hatred and equality.
Attested forms
πλέον
Occurrence inventory
2 in total. LXII.7; LXIII.10