μάται-ος [μᾰ], α, ον
[[ 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 331, “Th.” 442, “Ag.” 422 (Lyric poetry), etc.] Refs 4th c.BC+]; also ος, ον[[ [prev. work] 1151, “Ch.” 82, “Eu.” 337 (all Lyric poetry), 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Coloneus” 780, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Iphigenia Taurica” 628, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Sophista” 231b, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 1.18 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]: (μάτη):—
__I vain, empty, idle:
__I.1 of words, acts, etc., μάταια νομίζομεν [[ 6th c.BC: Theognis Elegiacus 141, compare 487, 492, etc.] Refs 6th c.BC+]; μ. λόγοι idle tales or words, [[ 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 7.10 ] Refs 5th c.BC+].; μ. ἔπεα[[ [prev. work] 11; δόξαι φέρουσαι χάριν μ. 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 422 (Lyric poetry)] Refs 4th c.BC+]; μ. ὑλάγματα, ποιφύγματα,[[ [prev. work] 1672, “Th.” 281 ] Refs]; μ. εὐχή E.[same place]; μάταια βάζειν τινά [[ [prev. author] “Hipp.” 119; μ. τι δρᾶσαί τινα [prev. author] “Cyc.” 662 (Lyric poetry); μ. ἂν εἴη πόνος 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Timaeus” 40d ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; μ. ἡδονή S.[same place]; δοξοσοφία [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Sph.” [same place]; ὄρεξις 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Ethica Nicomachea” 1094a21 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ μ. ἀναλώματα useless expenses, [[ “POxy.” 58.20 (3rd c.AD)] Refs 3rd c.AD+]; but also, μ. ἔπος a word of offence, [[ 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.120. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]
__I.2 of persons, empty, foolish, ματαιότεροι νόον [[ 6th c.BC: Theognis Elegiacus 1025, compare 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.173, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 863, 888 (Lyric poetry), 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Vespae” 338, 5th-6th c.BC: Amipsias Comicus 9 (_superlative_)] Refs 6th c.BC+]; φῦλον ματαιότατον [[ 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “P.” 3.21 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; worthless, [[ 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 1339 (Lyric poetry). ] Refs 5th c.BC+]