esthai

Esthai is a term that appears in the study of Ancient Greek grammar rather than a standalone lexical entry. It refers to the present middle infinitive form of certain verbs, a morphological ending that signals middle or passive voice rather than active voice. In this sense, esthai is not a separate verb but a form that verbs can take in their infinitive constructions.

In practice, esthai is seen in conjunction with a verb stem to yield forms like philesthai, derived from philein “to love.” The middle infinitive often carries a reflexive or middle meaning, indicating that the subject experiences or is affected by the action, or that the action is performed with some degree of self-involvement. This is a distinguishing feature of Ancient Greek morphology, particularly in the first and second conjugations and with deponent or middle-voice verbs.

Esthai contrasts with other infinitive endings in Greek, such as the active infinitive typically represented in forms related to -einai (the standard active infinitive for “to be” is einai), and with the present indicative esti (ἐστί) for “he/she/it is.” The use of esthai thus reflects the broader Greek system of voice and aspect, and it is most commonly discussed in descriptive grammars, grammars of morphology, and lexicographic works such as the Liddell–Scott–Jones Latinized entries.

The term is primarily of interest to students and scholars of Greek syntax and philology. It helps explain how certain verbs express nuanced relations of action and subject experience in ancient texts, including poetry and philosophical prose.