Lexical usage

When adjectives are used, more semantic roles are possible. Adjectives denoting time or place (e.g. σκοταῖος ‘dark’, παννύχιος ‘of the night’, πρότερος ‘sooner’, μέσος ‘middle’, ἔσχατος ‘last’) are often predicative constructions in Greek. In these cases English prefers the use of an adverb. The same is true of expressions of manner, especially those referring to a frame of mind (e.g. ἄσμενος ‘pleased’, ἑκών and ἑκούσιος ‘willingly’, ἄκων ‘unwillingly’).
The numerals derived from ordinals ending in -αῖος indicate on which day something happened: δευτεραῖος ‘on the second day’, τριταῖος ‘on the third day’. Usually these numerals are in the nominative, agreeing with the subject.

Translation tips

A number of these adjectives are best translated as adverbs: Κλέων δὲ ἐνταῦθα δὴ πολὺς ἐνέκειτο (Thuc. 4.22.2) ‘So Cleon often stayed there.’.