| 24. Linguistic Exegesis The postpositive conjunction de {δὲ | dè} links this description to the preceding narrative, posing contrast. The noun phrase to ploion {τὸ πλοῖον | tò ploî-on} occupies initial position to introduce “the boat” as topic. Edē {ἤδη | ḗ-dē} is a temporal adverb indicating that separation from land had occurred. The accusative expression stadious pollous {σταδίους πολλούς | sta-dí-ous pol-loús} functions as an accusative of extent of space, while apo tēs gēs {ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς | apó tês gês} marks the point of departure. Apeichen {ἀπεῖχεν | a-peî-chen} in the imperfect tense conveys a continuous past state. The participle basanizomenon {βασανιζόμενον | ba-sa-ni-zó-me-non} introduces a circumstantial participle describing manner, with hypo tōn kymatōn {ὑπὸ τῶν κυμάτων | hypó tōn ky-má-tōn} as an agentive phrase. The explanatory conjunction gar {γὰρ | gàr} introduces the causal clause enantios ho anemos {ἐναντίος ὁ ἄνεμος | e-nan-tí-os ho án-e-mos}, where the predicate adjective precedes the subject to emphasize the wind’s hostile character. |