From the book
Lysis
Plato · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordDiatribē means occupation, way of spending time; here, chiefly conversation.
- In LysisSocrates asks both what the place is and what the διατριβή is.
- Reading contextThe invitation makes conversation a shared social occupation before it becomes a tightly directed examination of love and friendship.
- A place to readThe Greek example means “the occupation is mostly conversation.”
- English renderings
- Occupation, way of spending time; here, chiefly conversation
Meaning
Occupation, way of spending time; here, chiefly conversation.
Grammatical category: noun, feminine.
Use in the book
Socrates asks both what the place is and what the διατριβή is. Hippothales distinguishes the wrestling-school from the activity taking place there: mostly talk, which they would gladly share with Socrates.
The cognate verb διατρίβομεν describes their spending time in the venue. Neither the noun nor the verb requires an organized course of instruction. The invitation makes conversation a shared social occupation before it becomes a tightly directed examination of love and friendship.
Places to read
- 204aἡ δὲ διατριβὴ τὰ πολλὰ ἐν λόγοις — the occupation is mostly conversation.