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Can a masculine (or feminine) adjective functioning substantivally be translated as a concept, or only a person? For instance, could αγαθος be translated as "good" or "goodness" if the context allows, or must it be rendered "a good man/one"?

Hi,

The masculine | feminine substantive adjectives typically refer to a person. But the person could be idealized, e.g., [size=150]ὁ σοφός[/size] can mean 'the wise man' without reference to a particular individual.

Without the article this example would mean simply 'a wise man'.

See Smyth's Grammar, 1021-1029.

Cordially,

Paul