balllein

Balllein is a transliteration of the ancient Greek verb βάλλειν, meaning “to throw” or “to cast.” In linguistic and classical studies, balllein is generally used as the present active infinitive form of βάλλω and appears as a standard example in discussions of Greek verb morphology and citation forms.

Etymology and forms are typically discussed in relation to βάλλειν and its root βάλλ-, which is linked to the broader Greek lexeme for throwing, casting, or striking. The infinitive balllein is contrasted with other forms of βάλλω, such as the aorist or future paradigms, and with compounds built from the base βάλλ-, including εκβάλλειν “to cast out,” προσβάλλειν “to attack,” and καταβάλλειν “to throw down” or “to subdue,” depending on context. The precise spelling and accentuation can vary with dialect and historical period.

In scholarly usage, balllein serves as a convenient lemma in grammars and lexica to illustrate the infinitival pattern of Greek verbs and to demonstrate how the base root combines with prefixes to form related meanings. It is not commonly used as a stand-alone vocabulary item in modern languages but remains a standard reference point in discussions of Greek verbal morphology and in the analysis of ancient texts.

See also βάλλω; βάλλειν; Greek verbs; Greek prefixes and compound verbs. References to standard grammars and lexicons, such as the Liddell–Scott–Jones Greek-English Lexicon and Smyth’s Greek Grammar, are typical for further details on its forms and examples.