χάος

A. chaos, the first state of the universe, πρώτιστα χ. γένετ’, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα Γαῖ’ εὐρύστερνος κτλ. Hes. Th. 116, cf. Ibyc. 28, Epich. 170.3, Acus. Fr. 5J., Arist. Metaph. 1091b6, Ar. Av. 693 (anap.); χάους . . παῖς καλεῦμαι Simm. Alae 7; represented sts. as infinite space, S.E. P. 3.121, cf. Plot. 6.8.11; sts. as unformed matter, Luc. Am. 32 (esp., acc. to the Stoics, water, Zeno Stoic. 1.29 (with deriv. fr. χέω)).

2. space, the expanse of air, ἄτρυτον χ. B. 5.27, cf. Ar. Nu. 424 (anap.), 627, Av. 1218.

b. τὸ χ. τοῦ ἐφ’ ἑκάτερα ἀπείρου αἰῶνος, of infinite time, M.Ant. 4.3.

3. the nether abyss, infinite darkness, joined with Ἔρεβος, Pl. Ax. 371e; with ὄρφνη, Q.S. 2.614; represented as in the interior of the globe, Plu. 2.953a; χάους κύνα, of Cerberus, APl. 4.91.

b. generally, darkness, A.R. 4.1697.

4. any vast gulf or chasm, LXX Mi. 1.6, Za. 14.4; of a pit, Opp. C. 4.92; of the gaping jaws of the crocodile, ib.3.414, cf. 4.161, H. 5.52.

5. Pythag. name for one, Theol.Ar. 6.