μέν: Difference between revisions

|Definition=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]]. <span class="sense"><span class="bld">A</span> </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">I</span> [[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 <b class="b3">ἦ μέν</b> in protestations and oaths (where Att. used <b class="b3">ἦ μήν</b>), καί μοι ὄμοσσον, ἦ μ. μοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν καὶ χερσὶν ἀρήξειν <span class="bibl">Il.1.77</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">14.275</span>; ἦ μέν τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται <span class="bibl">Od.14.160</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">Il.24.416</span>; τοῦτον ἐξορκοῖ, ἦ μέν οἱ διηκονήσειν <span class="bibl">Hdt.4.154</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">5.93</span>, etc.: with neg., οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακὸν βασιλευέμεν <span class="bibl">Od.1.392</span>, etc.; ὤμοσα, μὴ μὲν… ἀναφῆναι <span class="bibl">4.254</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">Hdt.2.118</span>, <span class="bibl">179</span>; ἔξαρνος ἦν, μὴ μὲν ἀποκτεῖναι <span class="bibl">Id.3.67</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">99</span>: without neg., ἀνδρὸς μὲν τόδε σῆμα πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος <span class="bibl">Il.7.89</span>: also in Trag., ἀκτὴ μὲν ἥδε τῆς περιρρύτου χθονός <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Ph.</span>1</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">159</span> (anap.), <span class="bibl"><span class="title">OC</span>44</span>, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Med.</span>676</span>, <span class="bibl">1129</span>, etc.; καὶ μέν <span class="bibl">Il.1.269</span>, <span class="bibl">9.632</span>, etc.; <b class="b3">οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ</b>… <span class="bibl">2.703</span>, <span class="bibl">12.212</span>; <b class="b3">γε μέν</b>, cf. γε <span class="bibl">1.5</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">2</span> an answering clause with [[δέ]] is sometimes implied, <b class="b3">τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ σπουδῇ δάμνημ' ἐπέεσσι</b> her can I hardly subdue, [[[but]] all others easily], <span class="bibl">Il.5.893</span>; <b class="b3">ὡς μὲν λέγουσι</b> as [[indeed]] they say, [[[but]] as I believe not], <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Or.</span> 8</span>; <b class="b3">καὶ πρῶτον μὲν ἦν αὐτῷ πόλεμος</b> (with no <b class="b3">ἔπειτα δέ</b> to follow), <span class="bibl">X. <span class="title">An.</span>1.9.14</span>; so <b class="b3">νῦν μέν σ' ἀφήσω</b> I will let you go [[this time]], <span class="bibl">Herod.5.81</span>: to give force to assertions made by a person respecting himself, wherein opposition to other persons is implied, ὡς μὲν ἐμῷ θυμῷ δοκεῖ <span class="bibl">Od. 13.154</span>; <b class="b3">δοκεῖν μέν μοι ἥξει τήμερον [τὸ πλοῖον</b>] <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Cri.</span>43d</span>: hence with the pers. Pron., ἐγὼ μέν νυν θεοῖσι ἔχω χάριν <span class="bibl">Hdt.1.71</span>; <b class="b3">ἐγὼ μὲν οὐδέν</b> (sc. [[θέλω]]) <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Ant.</span>498</span>; ἐμοῦ μὲν οὐχ ἑκόντος <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Aj.</span>455</span>; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ οἶδα <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Cyr.</span>1.4.12</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">4.2.45</span>, etc.: with the demonstr. Pron., τούτου μὲν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐγὼ σοφώτερός εἰμι <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Ap.</span> 21d</span>: generally, to emphasize the preceding word, <b class="b3">πολλὴ μὲν ἡ μεταβολή μοι γέγονεν</b> great [[indeed]] has been the change, <span class="bibl">Is.1.1</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">Simon.5.1</span>, etc. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">3</span> [[μέν]] is used alone in questions, when the answer is assumed, [[I take it]], <b class="b3">θέμις μὲν ἡμᾶς χρησμὸν εἰδέναι θεοῦ</b>; <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Med.</span>676</span>, cf. <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ion</span> 520</span> (troch.), <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Hipp.</span>316</span>, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Ant.</span>634</span>, <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Av.</span>1214</span>; <b class="b3">Ἕλλην μέν ἐστι καὶ Ἑλληνίζει</b>; <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Men.</span>82b</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">II</span> [[μέν]] folld. by [[δέ]] in the correlative clause or clauses, <b class="b2">on the one hand, on the other hand</b>; commonly in Classical Gr., less freq. in later Gr. (rare in <span class="title">NT</span>): </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">1</span> <b class="b3">μέν... δέ</b>… (or when the correlative clause is neg., <b class="b3">μέν... οὐδέ</b>... <span class="bibl">Il.1.318</span>,<span class="bibl">536</span>), to mark opposition, Hom., etc.—The opposed clauses commonly stand together, but are freq. separated by clauses, parenthetic or explanatory; e.g. [[μέν]] in <span class="bibl">Il.2.494</span> is answered by [[δέ]] in <span class="bibl">511</span>, <span class="bibl">527</span> sq.; in <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>1.9.2</span>, <b class="b3">πρῶτον μέν</b> is answered by <b class="b3">ἐπεὶ δέ</b> in <abbr title="Illegible text in print source">†</abbr> <span class="bibl">6</span>; in <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Mem.</span>1.1.2</span>, <b class="b3">πρῶτον μέν</b> is answered by <b class="b3">θαυμαστὸν δέ</b> in <span class="bibl">1.2.1</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">2</span> to connect a series of clauses containing different matter, though with no opposition, <span class="bibl">Il.1.18s</span>q., <span class="bibl">306</span> sq. (five [[δέ]]-clauses), <span class="bibl">433</span> sq. (eight [[δέ]]-clauses), cf. <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span> 1.3.14</span>,<span class="bibl">7.10s</span>q.: freq. when the members of a group or class are distinctly specified, <b class="b3">παῖδες δύο, πρεσβύτερος μὲν Ἀρταξέρξης, νεώτερος δὲ Κῦρος</b> ib.<span class="bibl">1.1.1</span>; <b class="b3">τάφρος... τὸ μὲν εὖρος ὀργυιαὶ πέντε, τὸ δὲ βάθος ὀργυιαὶ τρεῖς</b> ib.<span class="bibl">1.7.14</span>; <b class="b3">πρῶτος μέν... δεύτερος δέ... τρίτος δέ</b>… ib.<span class="bibl">5.6.9</span>; <b class="b3">τότε μέν... τότε δέ</b>... at [[one]] time... at [[another]]... ib.<span class="bibl">6.1.9</span>, etc.: esp. with the Art. used as a Pron., <b class="b3">ὁ μέν... ὁ δέ… ; τὸ μέν... τὸ δέ</b>... etc. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">3</span> the principal word is freq. repeated, οἳ περὶ μὲν βουλὴν Δαναῶν, περὶ δ' ἐστὲ μάχεσθαι <span class="bibl">Il.1.258</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">288</span>, <span class="bibl">Od.15.70</span>; ἔνι μὲν φιλότης, ἐν δ' ἵμερος, ἐν δ' ὀαριστύς <span class="bibl">Il.14.216</span>; Ξέρξης μὲν ἄγαγεν... Ξέρξης δ' ἀπώλεσεν <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Pers.</span>550</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">560</span>, <span class="bibl">694</span>, <span class="bibl">700</span> (all lyr.); χαλεπαίνει μὲν πρῳρεύς, χαλεπαίνει δὲ κυβερνήτης <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>5.8.20</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">4</span> one of the correlative clauses is sometimes independent, while the other takes the part. or some other dependent form, <b class="b3">ἐβλασφήμει κατ' ἐμοῦ... μάρτυρα μὲν… οὐδένα παρασχόμενος... παρεκελεύετο δέ</b>… <span class="bibl">D.57.11</span>; οἱ ἀμφὶ βασιλέα, πεζοὶ μὲν οὐκέτι, τῶν δὲ ἱππέων ὁ λόφος ἐνεπλήσθη <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>1.10.12</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">2.1.7</span>, <span class="bibl">5.6.29</span>; ὧν ἐπιμεμφομένα σ' ἁδεῖα μὲν ἀντία δ' οἴσω <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Tr.</span>123</span>, cf. <span class="bibl"><span class="title">OC</span> 522</span> (bothlyr.); χωρὶς μὲν τοῦ ἐστερῆσθαι... ἔτι δὲ καὶ… δόξω ἀμελῆσαι <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Cri.</span>44</span> b. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">5</span> [[μέν]] and [[δέ]] freq. oppose two clauses, whereof one is subordinate to the other in meaning or emphasis, <b class="b3">ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνο θαυμάζω, εἰ Λακεδαιμονίοις μέν ποτε… ἀντήρατε,… νυνὶ δὲ ὀκνεῖτ' ἐξιέναι</b> (for <b class="b3">εἰ… ἀντάραντες νυνὶ ὀκνεῖτε</b>) <span class="bibl">D.2.24</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">IT</span>116</span>, <span class="bibl">Lys.34.11</span>, <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Mem.</span>2.7.11</span>, etc.: so in an anacoluthon, <b class="b3">τρία μὲν ὄντα… ναυτικά... τούτων δ' εἰ περιόψεσθε τὰ δύο, κτλ</b>., <span class="bibl">Th.1.36</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">6</span> [[μέν]] is not always answered by [[δέ]], but freq. by other equiv. Particles, as [[ἀλλά]], <span class="bibl">Il.1.22</span> sq., <span class="bibl">2.703</span> sq., <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">O.</span>9.1</span>, <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Pers.</span>176</span>, <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>1.7.17</span>:—by [[μέντοι]], <span class="bibl">Hdt.1.36</span>, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Ph.</span> 350</span>, <span class="bibl">D.21.189</span>, etc.:—by [[ἀτάρ]], <span class="bibl">Il.6.84</span>,<span class="bibl">124</span>, <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Pr.</span>342</span>, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">OT</span>1051s</span>q., <span class="bibl">Pl. <span class="title">Tht.</span>172c</span>, etc. (so <b class="b3">μέν... αὐτάρ</b> in Ep., <span class="bibl">Il.1.50</span>, <span class="bibl">Od.19.513</span>, etc.):— by [[αὖ]], <span class="bibl">Il.11.108</span>, <span class="bibl">Od.4.210</span>:—by [[αὖθις]], <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Ant.</span>165</span>:—by [[αὖτε]], <span class="bibl">Il.1.234</span>, <span class="bibl">Od.22.5</span>:—by temporal Particles, <b class="b3">πρῶτα μέν... εἶτα</b>… <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">El.</span>261</span>; <b class="b3">πρῶτον μέν... μετὰ τοῦτο</b>… <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>6.1.5</span>-<span class="bibl">7</span>; <b class="b3">μάλιστα μὲν δὴ... ἔπειτα μέντοι</b>… <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Ph.</span>350</span>, cf. <span class="bibl"><span class="title">OT</span>647</span>:—rarely by [[μήν]] with neg., οὐδὲν μὴν κωλύει <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Phdr.</span>268e</span>; οὐ μὴν αὐταί γε <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Phlb.</span>12d</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">b</span> when the opposition is emphatic, [[δέ]] is sometimes strengthened, as <b class="b3">ὅμως δέ</b>… <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">OT</span>785</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ph.</span>473</span>, <span class="bibl">1074</span>, etc. (so ἀλλ' ὅμως <span class="bibl"><span class="title">El.</span>450</span>); <b class="b3">δ' αὖ</b>… <span class="bibl">Il.4.415</span>, <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>1.10.5</span>; <b class="b3">δ' ἔμπης</b>… <span class="bibl">Il.1.561</span>-<span class="bibl">2</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">c</span> [[μέν]] is sometimes answered by a copul. Particle, <b class="b3">κάρτιστοι μὲν ἔσαν καὶ καρτίστοις ἐμάχοντο</b> ib.<span class="bibl">267</span>, cf.<span class="bibl">459</span>, <span class="bibl">Od. 22.475</span>, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Aj.</span>1</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Tr.</span>689</span>, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Med.</span>125</span> (anap.), etc.: rarely in Prose, τρία μὲν ἔτη ἀντεῖχον... καὶ οὐ πρότερον ἐνέδοσαν <span class="bibl">Th.2.65</span> (dub.). </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">B</span> [[μέν]] before other Particles: </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">I</span> where each Particle retains its force, </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">1</span> <b class="b3">μὲν ἄρα</b>, in Hom. <b class="b3">μέν ῥα</b>, <span class="bibl">Il.2.1</span>, <span class="bibl">6.312</span>, <span class="bibl">Od.1.127</span>, <span class="bibl">Pl. <span class="title">Phdr.</span>258d</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">R.</span>467d</span>, etc. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">2</span> μὲν γάρ <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">OT</span>62</span>, <span class="bibl">Th.1.142</span>, etc.:— in Hom. there is freq. no second clause, <span class="bibl">Od.1.173</span>,<span class="bibl">392</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">OT</span>1062</span>, etc.; μὲν γὰρ δή <span class="bibl">Il.11.825</span>; μὲν γάρ τε <span class="bibl">17.727</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">3</span> <b class="b3">μέν γε</b>, when a general statement is explained in detail, Κορινθίοις μέν γε ἔνσπονδοί ἐστε <span class="bibl">Th.1.40</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">70</span>, <span class="bibl">6.86</span>, <span class="bibl">Hdt.6.46</span>, <span class="bibl">Antipho 5.14</span>, <span class="bibl">Lys. 13.27</span>, <span class="bibl">Is.4.8</span>, <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Nu.</span>1382</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">V.</span>564</span>, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Fr.</span>909.4</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">4</span> μὲν δή <span class="bibl">Il.1.514</span>, <span class="bibl">Hdt.1.32</span>, etc.: freq. used to express positive certainty, ἀλλ' οἶσθα μὲν δή <span class="bibl">S. <span class="title">Tr.</span>627</span>, cf. <span class="bibl"><span class="title">OT</span>294</span>; τὰ μὲν δὴ τόξ' ἔχεις <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Ph.</span>1308</span>; esp. as a conclusion, τοῦτο μὲν δὴ… ὁμολογεῖται <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Grg.</span>470b</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Cyr.</span>1.1.6</span>, etc.: in closing a statement, τοιαῦτα μὲν δὴ ταῦτα <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Pr.</span>500</span>, etc.: used in answers to convey full assent, <b class="b3">ἦ μὲν δή</b> (cf. supr. A) <span class="bibl">Il.9.348</span>, <span class="bibl">Od.4.33</span>; καὶ μὲν δή… γε <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">R.</span>409b</span>; <b class="b3">οὐ μὲν δή</b>, to deny positively, <span class="bibl">Il.8.238</span>, <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Cyr.</span>1.6.9</span>, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Tht.</span>148e</span>, etc.; οὐ μὲν δή… γε <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>2.2.3</span>, <span class="bibl">3.2.14</span>; <b class="b3">ἀλλ' οὔ τι μὲν δή</b>… <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Tht.</span>187a</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">5</span> <b class="b3">μὲν οὖν</b>, v. infr.<span class="bibl">11.2</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">II</span> where the Particles combine so as to form a new sense, </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">1</span> <b class="b3">μέν γε</b> [[at all events]], [[at any rate]] (not in Trag.), τοῦτο μέν γ' ἤδη σαφές <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ach.</span> 154</span>, cf. <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Nu.</span>1172</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Lys.</span>1165</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ra.</span>80</span>, <span class="bibl">Th.3.39</span>; μέν γέ που <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">R.</span>559b</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Tht.</span>147a</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">2</span> <b class="b3">μὲν οὖν</b> is freq. used with a corresponding [[δέ]], so that each Particle retains its force, <span class="bibl">Od.4.780</span>, <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">O.</span>1.111</span>, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">OT</span>244</span>, <span class="bibl">843</span>; <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ph.</span>359</span>, <span class="bibl">D.2.5</span>, etc.: but freq. also abs., [[so then]], <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Ant.</span>65</span>; ταῦτα μὲν οὖν παραλείψω <span class="bibl">D.2.3</span>; esp. in replies, sometimes in strong affirmation, παντάπασι μὲν οὖν <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Tht.</span>158d</span>; <b class="b3">κομιδῇ μὲν οὖν</b> ib.<span class="bibl">159e</span>; <b class="b3">πάνυ μὲν οὖν</b> ib.<span class="bibl">159b</span>; <b class="b3">ἀνάγκη μὲν οὖν</b> ib.<span class="bibl">189e</span>; also to substitute a new statement so as to correct a preceding statement, [[nay rather]], [[κακοδαίμων]]; Answ. <b class="b3">βαρυδαίμων μὲν οὖν</b>! <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ec.</span>1102</span>; <b class="b3">μου πρὸς τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποψῶ</b> wipe your nose on my head: Answ. <b class="b3">ἐμοῦ μὲν οὖν</b>… [[nay]] on mine, <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Eq.</span>911</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Pers.</span>1032</span> (lyr.), <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ag.</span>1090</span> (lyr.), <span class="bibl">1396</span>, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Aj.</span> 1363</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">El.</span>1503</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">OT</span>705</span>, <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ra.</span>241</span>, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Cri.</span>44b</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Grg.</span>466a</span>, <span class="bibl">470b</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Prt.</span> 309d</span>, etc.; also μὲν οὖν δή <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Tr.</span>153</span>; καὶ δὴ μὲν οὖν <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">OC</span>31</span>; cf. [[οὐμενοῦν]]: in <span class="title">NT</span> [[μενοῦν]] and [[μενοῦνγε]], to begin a sentence, [[yea rather]], Ev.Luc.11.28, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ep.Rom.</span>9.20</span>, etc., cf. Phryn.322, Hsch.—In Ion., <b class="b3">μέν νυν</b> is used for <b class="b3">μὲν οὖν</b>, <span class="bibl">Hdt.1.18</span>, <span class="bibl">4.145</span>, etc. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">3</span> by <b class="b3">μέν τε</b>, if <b class="b3">δέ τε</b> follows, the two clauses are more closely combined than by <b class="b3">τε... τε</b>... <span class="bibl">Il.5.139</span>, al.; <b class="b3">μέν τε</b> is freq. answered by [[δέ]] alone, <span class="bibl">16.28</span>, al.; by [[ἀλλά]], [[αὐτάρ]], <span class="bibl">17.727</span>, <span class="bibl">Od.1.215</span>, al.; perh. by [[ἠδέ]], <span class="bibl">Il.4.341</span>:— Hom. also uses <b class="b3">μέν τε</b> abs., when τε loses its force, as after [[ἦ]], [[τίς]], etc., <span class="bibl">Il.2.145</span>, al. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">4</span> <b class="b3">μέν τοι</b> 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: </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">a</span> with a conj. force, [[yet]], [[nevertheless]], <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Pr.</span>320</span>, <span class="bibl">1054</span> (anap.), <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Tr.</span>413</span>, etc.; and sometimes stands for [[δέ]], answering to [[μέν]], v. supr. A.11.6 a. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">b</span> as an Adv., in strong protestations, <b class="b3">οὐ μέντοι μὰ Δία</b>… <span class="bibl">D.4.49</span>; in eager or positive assent, [[of course]], <b class="b3">φαμέν τι εἶναι</b>…; Answ. φαμὲν μέντοι νὴ Δία <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Phd.</span>65d</span>, al.: with a neg. to give emphasis to a question, <b class="b3">οὐ σὺ μέντοι</b>…; [[why]], are you not… ? <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Prt.</span>309a</span>, cf. <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Phdr.</span>229b</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">R.</span>339b</span>, etc.: sometimes to express impatience, <b class="b3">ὄμνυμι γάρ σοι—τίνα μέντοι, τίνα θεῶν</b>; <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Phdr.</span> 236d</span>; <b class="b3">τί μ. πρῶτον ἦν, τί πρῶτον ἦν</b>; [[nay]] what [[was]] the first? <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Nu.</span> 787</span>; οὗτος, σὲ λέγω μ. <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Ra.</span>171</span>; <b class="b3">σὺ μέντοι</b>… <span class="bibl">Luc.<span class="title">Alex.</span>44</span>: with imper., to enforce the command, <b class="b3">τουτὶ μ. σὺ φυλάττου</b> [[only]] take heed... <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Pax</span>1100</span>, cf.<span class="bibl"><span class="title">Av.</span>661</span>, <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>1.4.8</span>: in answers, <b class="b3">γελοῖον μέντἂν εἴη</b> [[nay]] it would be absurd, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Tht.</span>158e</span>; summing up a long temporal clause, <span class="bibl">And.1.130</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">c</span> μέντοι γε <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Cyr.</span>5.5.24</span>, etc.; οὐ μ. γε <span class="bibl">Diog.Apoll.5</span>: in later Gr. [[μέντοιγε]] stands first in the sentence, μ. οὐ θέλω <span class="bibl"><span class="title">PLond.</span>3.897.13</span> (i A.D.); also γε μέντοι <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Ag.</span>938</span>, <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">OT</span>778</span>, <span class="bibl">1292</span>, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Hec.</span>600</span>; ὅμως γε μ. <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ra.</span>61</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">d</span> <b class="b3">καὶ μ. καί</b> is used to add a point to be noted, <span class="bibl">Heraclit.28</span>, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">R.</span>331d</span>; also <b class="b3">καί… μ., νῦν σοι καιρός ἐστιν ἐπιδείξασθαι τὴν παιδείαν, καὶ φυλάξασθαι μέντοι</b>… and [[of course]] to take care... <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>4.6.15</span> (v.l.), cf. <span class="bibl">1.8.20</span>, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Prt.</span>339c</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Tht.</span>143a</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">e</span> <b class="b3">ἀλλὰ μέντοι</b> <b class="b2">well, if it comes to that</b>, <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>4.6.16</span>; [[well]], [[of course]], <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">R.</span>331e</span>, etc.; cf. [[μέντον]]. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">C</span> for [[μέν]] after other Particles, see each Particle. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">D</span> 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 <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">Tr.</span>63</span>; <b class="b3">οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι ἐτάξαντο μέν... ἡσύχαζον δέ</b>… <span class="bibl">Th.4.73</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">113</span>, etc. It also attaches itself to words which mark opposition, as <b class="b3">πρῶτον μέν, τότε μέν, ἐγὼ μέν</b>, even when these do not stand first: sometimes however it precedes them, ὡς μὲν ἐγὼ οἶμαι <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Phdr.</span>228b</span>; ὡς μέν τινες ἔφασαν <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Cyr.</span>5.2.28</span>. 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 sometimes neglected, as οἱ Τεγεᾶται μὲν ἐπηυλίσαντο, Μαντινῆς δὲ ἀπεχώρησαν <span class="bibl">Th.4.134</span>; <b class="b3">ἀνὰ τὸ σκοτεινὸν μέν</b>… <span class="bibl">Id.3.22</span>; also τῇ σῇ μὲν εὐδαιμονίῃ, τῇ ἐμεωυτοῦ δὲ κακοδαιμονίῃ <span class="bibl">Hdt. 1.87</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">II</span> [[μέν]] is freq. repeated: </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">1</span> when, besides the opposition of two main clauses, a subordinate opposition is introduced into the first, <b class="b3">ὁ μὲν ἀνὴρ τοιαῦτα μὲν πεποίηκε τοιαῦτα δὲ λέγει, ὑμῶν δέ</b>… <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">An.</span>1.6.9</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">5.8.24</span>, <span class="bibl">Th.8.104</span>, <span class="bibl">D.18.214</span>, <span class="bibl">23.208</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">2</span> in apodosi with the demonstr. Pron. or Adv., <b class="b3">τὸν μὲν καλέουσι θέρος, τοῦτον μὲν προσκυνέουσι, τὸν δὲ χειμῶνα</b>… <span class="bibl">Hdt.2.121</span>; <b class="b3">ὅσοι μὲν δὴ νομοῦ τοῦ Θηβαίου εἰσί, οὗτοι μέν [νυν]… αἶγας θύουσι· ὅσοι δὲ… νομοῦ τοῦ Μενδησίου εἰσί, οὗτοι δὲ… ὄϊς θύουσι</b> ib.<span class="bibl">42</span>, cf.<span class="bibl">3.108</span>, al.; <b class="b3">ὅτε μέν με οἱ ἄρχοντες ἔταττον... τότε μὲν ἔμενον... τοῦ δὲ θεοῦ τάττοντος,… ἐνταῦθα δέ</b>… <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Ap.</span>28e</span>, cf. <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Grg.</span> 512a</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">3</span> [[μέν]] used absolutely is freq. folld. by a correlative μέν, εἰ μὲν οὖν ἡμεῖς μὲν… ποιοῦμεν <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">R.</span>421a</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">III</span> [[μέν]] is sometimes omitted (esp. in Poetry) where it is implied in the following δέ, φεύγων, ὁ δ' ὄπισθε διώκων <span class="bibl">Il.22.157</span>; ἐλευθεροῦτε πατρίδ', ἐλευθεροῦτε δὲ παῖδας <span class="bibl">A. <span class="title">Pers.</span>403</span>; σφραγῖδε… χρυσοῦν ἔχουσα τὸν δακτύλιον, ἡ δ' ἑτέρα ἀργυροῦν <span class="title">IG</span>22.1388.45, cf. <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Nu.</span>396</span>, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Sph.</span>221e</span>, <span class="bibl">Arist.<span class="title">Po.</span>1447b14</span>, etc.</span>