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[253] γενναῖον, a “ἅπ. λεγ.” in Homer; nor does he use “γέννα” or “γεννάω”: “σημειοῦνταί τινες ὅτι οὕτως εἴρηται ἐγγενές, πάτριον” Schol. It A. is practically indifferent whether we explain the word thus, ‘it is not in my blood,’ or in the later sense ‘it is not honourable for me to shirk’; this sense is immediately derived from the former, as with our word ‘high-bred,’ worthy of a man of family. To a chieftain whatever is hereditary is honourable as a matter of course. “τὸ γενναῖόν ἐστι τὸ μὴ ἐξιστάμενον ἐκ τῆς αὑτοῦ φύσεως” Aristot. H. A. i. 1. 14.

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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