μέν

English (LSJ)

Particle, used partly to express certainty on the part of the speaker or writer; partly, and more commonly, to point out that the word or clause with which it stands is correlative to another word or clause that is to follow, the latter word or clause being introduced by δέ.    A    I μέν used absolutely to express certainty, not followed by correlative δέ, indeed, of a truth, synonymous with μήν, as appears from the Ep. and Ion. form ἦ μέν in protestations and oaths (where Att. used ἦ μήν), καί μοι ὄμοσσον, ἦ μ. μοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν καὶ χερσὶν ἀρήξειν Il.1.77, cf. 14.275; ἦ μέν τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται Od.14.160, cf. Il.24.416; τοῦτον ἐξορκοῖ, ἦ μέν οἱ διηκονήσειν Hdt.4.154, cf. 5.93, etc.: with neg., οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακὸν βασιλευέμεν Od.1.392, etc.; ὤμοσα, μὴ μὲν . . ἀναφῆναι 4.254, cf. Hdt.2.118, 179; ἔξαρνος ἦν, μὴ μὲν ἀποκτεῖναι Id.3.67, cf. 99: without neg., ἀνδρὸς μὲν τόδε σῆμα πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος Il.7.89: also in Trag., ἀκτὴ μὲν ἥδε τῆς περιρρύτου χθονός S.Ph.1, cf. 159 (anap.), OC44, E.Med.676, 1129, etc.; καὶ μέν Il.1.269, 9.632, etc.; οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ . . 2.703, 12.212; γε μέν, cf. γε 1.5.    2 an answering clause with δέ is sts. implied, τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ σπουδῇ δάμνημ' ἐπέεσσι her can I hardly subdue, [but all others easily], Il.5.893; ὡς μὲν λέγουσι as indeed they say, [but as I believe not], E.Or. 8; καὶ πρῶτον μὲν ἦν αὐτῷ πόλεμος (with no ἔπειτα δέ to follow), X. An.1.9.14; so νῦν μέν σ' ἀφήσω I will let you go this time, Herod.5.81: to give force to assertions made by a person respecting himself, wherein opposition to other persons is implied, ὡς μὲν ἐμῷ θυμῷ δοκεῖ Od. 13.154; δοκεῖν μέν μοι ἥξει τήμερον [τὸ πλοῖον] Pl.Cri.43d: hence with the pers. Pron., ἐγὼ μέν νυν θεοῖσι ἔχω χάριν Hdt.1.71; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐδέν (sc. θέλω) S.Ant.498; ἐμοῦ μὲν οὐχ ἑκόντος Id.Aj.455; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ οἶδα X.Cyr.1.4.12, cf. 4.2.45, etc.: with the demonstr. Pron., τούτου μὲν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐγὼ σοφώτερός εἰμι Pl.Ap. 21d: generally, to emphasize the preceding word, πολλὴ μὲν ἡ μεταβολή μοι γέγονεν great indeed has been the change, Is.1.1, cf. Simon.5.1, etc.    3 μέν is used alone in questions, when the answer is assumed, I take it, θέμις μὲν ἡμᾶς χρησμὸν εἰδέναι θεοῦ; E.Med.676, cf. Ion 520 (troch.), Hipp.316, S.Ant.634, Ar.Av.1214; Ἕλλην μέν ἐστι καὶ Ἑλληνίζει; Pl.Men.82b.    II μέν folld. by δέ in the correlative clause or clauses, on the one hand, on the other hand; commonly in Classical Gr., less freq. in later Gr. (rare in NT):    1 μέν... δέ . . (or when the correlative clause is neg., μέν... οὐδέ... Il.1.318,536), to mark opposition, Hom., etc.—The opposed clauses commonly stand together, but are freq. separated by clauses, parenthetic or explanatory; e.g. μέν in Il.2.494 is answered by δέ in 511, 527 sq.; in X.An.1.9.2, πρῶτον μέν is answered by ἐπεὶ δέ in <*> 6; in Id.Mem.1.1.2, πρῶτον μέν is answered by θαυμαστὸν δέ in 1.2.1.    2 to connect a series of clauses containing different matter, though with no opposition, Il.1.18sq., 306 sq. (five δέ-clauses), 433 sq. (eight δέ-clauses), cf. X.An. 1.3.14,7.10sq.: freq. when the members of a group or class are distinctly specified, παῖδες δύο, πρεσβύτερος μὲν Ἀρταξέρξης, νεώτερος δὲ Κῦρος ib.1.1.1; τάφρος... τὸ μὲν εὖρος ὀργυιαὶ πέντε, τὸ δὲ βάθος ὀργυιαὶ τρεῖς ib.1.7.14; πρῶτος μέν... δεύτερος δέ... τρίτος δέ . . ib.5.6.9; τότε μέν... τότε δέ... at one time... at another... ib.6.1.9, etc.: esp. with the Art. used as a Pron., ὁ μέν... ὁ δέ . . ; τὸ μέν... τὸ δέ... etc.    3 the principal word is freq. repeated, οἳ περὶ μὲν βουλὴν Δαναῶν, περὶ δ' ἐστὲ μάχεσθαι Il.1.258, cf. 288, Od.15.70; ἔνι μὲν φιλότης, ἐν δ' ἵμερος, ἐν δ' ὀαριστύς Il.14.216; Ξέρξης μὲν ἄγαγεν... Ξέρξης δ' ἀπώλεσεν A.Pers.550, cf. 560, 694, 700 (all lyr.); χαλεπαίνει μὲν πρῳρεύς, χαλεπαίνει δὲ κυβερνήτης X.An.5.8.20.    4 one of the correlative clauses is sts. independent, while the other takes the part. or some other dependent form, ἐβλασφήμει κατ' ἐμοῦ... μάρτυρα μὲν . . οὐδένα παρασχόμενος... παρεκελεύετο δέ . . D.57.11; οἱ ἀμφὶ βασιλέα, πεζοὶ μὲν οὐκέτι, τῶν δὲ ἱππέων ὁ λόφος ἐνεπλήσθη X.An.1.10.12, cf. 2.1.7, 5.6.29; ὧν ἐπιμεμφομένα σ' ἁδεῖα μὲν ἀντία δ' οἴσω S.Tr.123, cf. OC 522 (bothlyr.); χωρὶς μὲν τοῦ ἐστερῆσθαι... ἔτι δὲ καὶ . . δόξω ἀμελῆσαι Pl.Cri.44 b.    5 μέν and δέ freq. oppose two clauses, whereof one is subordinate to the other in meaning or emphasis, ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνο θαυμάζω, εἰ Λακεδαιμονίοις μέν ποτε . . ἀντήρατε, . . νυνὶ δὲ ὀκνεῖτ' ἐξιέναι (for εἰ . . ἀντάραντες νυνὶ ὀκνεῖτε) D.2.24, cf. E.IT116, Lys.34.11, X.Mem.2.7.11, etc.: so in an anacoluthon, τρία μὲν ὄντα . . ναυτικά... τούτων δ' εἰ περιόψεσθε τὰ δύο, κτλ., Th.1.36.    6 μέν is not always answered by δέ, but freq. by other equiv. Particles, as ἀλλά, Il.1.22 sq., 2.703 sq., Pi.O.9.1, A.Pers.176, X.An.1.7.17:—by μέντοι, Hdt.1.36, S.Ph. 350, D.21.189, etc.:—by ἀτάρ, Il.6.84,124, A.Pr.342, S.OT1051sq., Pl. Tht.172c, etc. (so μέν... αὐτάρ in Ep., Il.1.50, Od.19.513, etc.):— by αὖ, Il.11.108, Od.4.210:—by αὖθις, S.Ant.165:—by αὖτε, Il.1.234, Od.22.5:—by temporal Particles, πρῶτα μέν... εἶτα . . S.El.261; πρῶτον μέν... μετὰ τοῦτο . . X.An.6.1.5-7; μάλιστα μὲν δὴ... ἔπειτα μέντοι . . S.Ph.350, cf. OT647:—rarely by μήν with neg., οὐδὲν μὴν κωλύει Pl.Phdr.268e; οὐ μὴν αὐταί γε Id.Phlb.12d.    b when the opposition is emphatic, δέ is sts. strengthd., as ὅμως δέ . . S.OT785, Ph.473, 1074, etc. (so ἀλλ' ὅμως El.450); δ' αὖ . . Il.4.415, X.An.1.10.5; δ' ἔμπης . . Il.1.561-2.    c μέν is sts. answered by a copul. Particle, κάρτιστοι μὲν ἔσαν καὶ καρτίστοις ἐμάχοντο ib.267, cf.459, Od. 22.475, S.Aj.1, Tr.689, E.Med.125 (anap.), etc.: rarely in Prose, τρία μὲν ἔτη ἀντεῖχον... καὶ οὐ πρότερον ἐνέδοσαν Th.2.65 (dub.).    B μέν before other Particles:    I where each Particle retains its force,    1 μὲν ἄρα, in Hom. μέν ῥα, Il.2.1, 6.312, Od.1.127, Pl. Phdr.258d, R.467d, etc.    2 μὲν γάρ S.OT62, Th.1.142, etc.:— in Hom. there is freq. no second clause, Od.1.173,392, cf. S.OT1062, etc.; μὲν γὰρ δή Il.11.825; μὲν γάρ τε 17.727.    3 μέν γε, when a general statement is explained in detail, Κορινθίοις μέν γε ἔνσπονδοί ἐστε Th.1.40, cf. 70, 6.86, Hdt.6.46, Antipho 5.14, Lys. 13.27, Is.4.8, Ar.Nu.1382, V.564, E.Fr.909.4.    4 μὲν δή Il.1.514, Hdt.1.32, etc.: freq. used to express positive certainty, ἀλλ' οἶσθα μὲν δή S. Tr.627, cf. OT294; τὰ μὲν δὴ τόξ' ἔχεις Id.Ph.1308; esp. as a conclusion, τοῦτο μὲν δὴ . . ὁμολογεῖται Pl.Grg.470b, cf. X.Cyr.1.1.6, etc.: in closing a statement, τοιαῦτα μὲν δὴ ταῦτα A.Pr.500, etc.: used in answers to convey full assent, ἦ μὲν δή (cf. supr. A) Il.9.348, Od.4.33; καὶ μὲν δή . . γε Pl.R.409b; οὐ μὲν δή, to deny positively, Il.8.238, X.Cyr.1.6.9, Pl.Tht.148e, etc.; οὐ μὲν δή . . γε X.An.2.2.3, 3.2.14; ἀλλ' οὔ τι μὲν δή . . Pl.Tht.187a.    5 μὲν οὖν, v. infr.11.2.    II where the Particles combine so as to form a new sense,    1 μέν γε at all events, at any rate (not in Trag.), τοῦτο μέν γ' ἤδη σαφές Ar.Ach. 154, cf. Nu.1172, Lys.1165, Ra.80, Th.3.39; μέν γέ που Pl.R.559b, Tht.147a.    2 μὲν οὖν is freq. used with a corresponding δέ, so that each Particle retains its force, Od.4.780, Pi.O.1.111, S.OT244, 843; Ph.359, D.2.5, etc.: but freq. also abs., so then, S.Ant.65; ταῦτα μὲν οὖν παραλείψω D.2.3; esp. in replies, sts. in strong affirmation, παντάπασι μὲν οὖν Pl.Tht.158d; κομιδῇ μὲν οὖν ib.159e; πάνυ μὲν οὖν ib.159b; ἀνάγκη μὲν οὖν ib.189e; also to substitute a new statement so as to correct a preceding statement, nay rather, κακοδαίμων; Answ. βαρυδαίμων μὲν οὖν! Ar.Ec.1102; μου πρὸς τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποψῶ wipe your nose on my head: Answ. ἐμοῦ μὲν οὖν . . nay on mine, Id.Eq.911, cf. A.Pers.1032 (lyr.), Ag.1090 (lyr.), 1396, S.Aj. 1363, El.1503, OT705, Ar.Ra.241, Pl.Cri.44b, Grg.466a, 470b, Prt. 309d, etc.; also μὲν οὖν δή S.Tr.153; καὶ δὴ μὲν οὖν Id.OC31; cf. οὐμενοῦν: in NT μενοῦν and μενοῦνγε, to begin a sentence, yea rather, Ev.Luc.11.28, Ep.Rom.9.20, etc., cf. Phryn.322, Hsch.—In Ion., μέν νυν is used for μὲν οὖν, Hdt.1.18, 4.145, etc.    3 by μέν τε, if δέ τε follows, the two clauses are more closely combined than by τε... τε... Il.5.139, al.; μέν τε is freq. answered by δέ alone, 16.28, al.; by ἀλλά, αὐτάρ, 17.727, Od.1.215, al.; perh. by ἠδέ, Il.4.341:— Hom. also uses μέν τε abs., when τε loses its force, as after ἦ, τίς, etc., Il.2.145, al.    4 μέν τοι in Hom. always occurs in speeches, where τοι can be regarded as the dat. of the Pron.: later, μέντοι is written as a single word, and is used:    a with a conj. force, yet, nevertheless, A.Pr.320, 1054 (anap.), S.Tr.413, etc.; and sts. stands for δέ, answering to μέν, v. supr. A.11.6 a.    b as an Adv., in strong protestations, οὐ μέντοι μὰ Δία . . D.4.49; in eager or positive assent, of course, φαμέν τι εἶναι . . ; Answ. φαμὲν μέντοι νὴ Δία Pl.Phd.65d, al.: with a neg. to give emphasis to a question, οὐ σὺ μέντοι . . ; why, are you not . . ? Id.Prt.309a, cf. Phdr.229b, R.339b, etc.: sts. to express impatience, ὄμνυμι γάρ σοι—τίνα μέντοι, τίνα θεῶν; Id.Phdr. 236d; τί μ. πρῶτον ἦν, τί πρῶτον ἦν; nay what was the first? Ar.Nu. 787; οὗτος, σὲ λέγω μ. Id.Ra.171; σὺ μέντοι . . Luc.Alex.44: with imper., to enforce the command, τουτὶ μ. σὺ φυλάττου only take heed... Ar.Pax1100, cf.Av.661, X.An.1.4.8: in answers, γελοῖον μέντἂν εἴη nay it would be absurd, Pl.Tht.158e; summing up a long temporal clause, And.1.130.    c μέντοι γε X.Cyr.5.5.24, etc.; οὐ μ. γε Diog.Apoll.5: in later Gr. μέντοιγε stands first in the sentence, μ. οὐ θέλω PLond.3.897.13 (i A.D.); also γε μέντοι A.Ag.938, S.OT778, 1292, E.Hec.600; ὅμως γε μ. Ar.Ra.61.    d καὶ μ. καί is used to add a point to be noted, Heraclit.28, Pl.R.331d; also καί . . μ., νῦν σοι καιρός ἐστιν ἐπιδείξασθαι τὴν παιδείαν, καὶ φυλάξασθαι μέντοι . . and of course to take care... X.An.4.6.15 (v.l.), cf. 1.8.20, Pl.Prt.339c, Tht.143a.    e ἀλλὰ μέντοι well, if it comes to that, X.An.4.6.16; well, of course, Pl.R.331e, etc.; cf. μέντον.    C for μέν after other Particles, see each Particle.    D Position of μέν. Like δέ, it usu. stands as the second word in a sentence. But when a sentence begins with words common to its subordinate clauses, μέν stands second in the first of these clauses, as ἥδε γὰρ γυνὴ δούλη μέν, εἴρηκεν δ' ἐλεύθερον λόγον S.Tr.63; οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι ἐτάξαντο μέν... ἡσύχαζον δέ . . Th.4.73, cf. 113, etc. It also attaches itself to words which mark opposition, as πρῶτον μέν, τότε μέν, ἐγὼ μέν, even when these do not stand first: sts. however it precedes them, ὡς μὲν ἐγὼ οἶμαι Pl.Phdr.228b; ὡς μέν τινες ἔφασαν X.Cyr.5.2.28. It generally stands between the Art. and Noun, or the Prep. and its Case: but if special stress is laid on the Noun, this is sts. neglected, as οἱ Τεγεᾶται μὲν ἐπηυλίσαντο, Μαντινῆς δὲ ἀπεχώρησαν Th.4.134; ἀνὰ τὸ σκοτεινὸν μέν . . Id.3.22; also τῇ σῇ μὲν εὐδαιμονίῃ, τῇ ἐμεωυτοῦ δὲ κακοδαιμονίῃ Hdt. 1.87.    II μέν is freq. repeated:    1 when, besides the opposition of two main clauses, a subordinate opposition is introduced into the first, ὁ μὲν ἀνὴρ τοιαῦτα μὲν πεποίηκε τοιαῦτα δὲ λέγει, ὑμῶν δέ . . X.An.1.6.9, cf. 5.8.24, Th.8.104, D.18.214, 23.208.    2 in apodosi with the demonstr. Pron. or Adv., τὸν μὲν καλέουσι θέρος, τοῦτον μὲν προσκυνέουσι, τὸν δὲ χειμῶνα . . Hdt.2.121; ὅσοι μὲν δὴ νομοῦ τοῦ Θηβαίου εἰσί, οὗτοι μέν [νυν] . . αἶγας θύουσι· ὅσοι δὲ . . νομοῦ τοῦ Μενδησίου εἰσί, οὗτοι δὲ . . ὄϊς θύουσι ib.42, cf.3.108, al.; ὅτε μέν με οἱ ἄρχοντες ἔταττον... τότε μὲν ἔμενον... τοῦ δὲ θεοῦ τάττοντος, . . ἐνταῦθα δέ . . Pl.Ap.28e, cf. Grg. 512a.    3 μέν used absolutely is freq. folld. by a correlative μέν, εἰ μὲν οὖν ἡμεῖς μὲν . . ποιοῦμεν Id.R.421a.    III μέν is sts. omitted (esp. in Poetry) where it is implied in the following δέ, φεύγων, ὁ δ' ὄπισθε διώκων Il.22.157; ἐλευθεροῦτε πατρίδ', ἐλευθεροῦτε δὲ παῖδας A. Pers.403; σφραγῖδε . . χρυσοῦν ἔχουσα τὸν δακτύλιον, ἡ δ' ἑτέρα ἀργυροῦν IG22.1388.45, cf. Ar.Nu.396, Pl.Sph.221e, Arist.Po.1447b14, etc.