how would you translate "μου είχε λάβει"- He had received me or he took over me?

Question

Hello

How would you translate "μου είχε λάβει"?

Is it "he had received" or is it "he took over me"?

Answer 1

Hi

In order to give you a complete answer, I need to have the context  (entire sentence.)  In addition to that, I need to know if this phrase is from modern Greek or ancient Greek.

In any case, "μου" is a genitive pronoun in Greek and it is used to denote the indirect object. So it is translated as "from me" or "to me" or "for me" (depending on the meaning of the verb and the context). The translation of "μου" as "me" is incorrect.

Answer 2

Thank you very much for your prompt answer!

well this ione is from Cavafy's poem

"Εκεί το σώμα μου είχε λάβει ο Έρως

με την εξαίσια του ισχύν.

I guess in this case it would be- it took over me

but iwas puzzeled since I know that the verb  -λαμβάνω means to receive

Comments

Hi again!

In the context that you gave me, "μου" is not related at all with "είχε λάβει".
It goes with the previous phrase "το σώμα" and it is a possessive pronoun meaning "my".
"το σώμα μου" literally means "my body"

The verb "λαμβάνω" (in Past Tense: έλαβα), in ancient Greek has various meanings.  It means "receive" , "gain" and it can also mean "take over". Cavafy uses  modern Greek in a special way, including many idiomatic elements and words and endings of ancient Greek. So, in this context, the verb "έλαβε" means "took over.

The whole phrase "το σώμα μου είχε λάβει ο Έρως" if you translate it word to word, means:
"Love had taken over my body".

Answer 3

Σας ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ!

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