μά: Difference between revisions

|mdlsjtxt=<br />a Particle used in [[strong]] protestations and oaths, followed by acc. of the [[deity]] or [[thing]] appealed to; in itself [[neither]] [[affirmative]] nor [[negative]], but made so by prefixing ναί or οὐ, or by the context:—[[thus]],<br /><b class="num">I.</b> ναὶ μὰ…, in [[affirmation]], ναὶ μὰ [[τόδε]] [[σκῆπτρον]] yea by [[this]] [[sceptre]], Il.; ναὶ μὰ Δία, ναὶ μὰ τὸν Δία Ar., Plat.<br /><b class="num">II.</b> οὐ μὰ…, in [[negation]], οὐ μὰ Ζῆνα, nay, by…, Il.; οὔ τοι μὰ τοὺς [[δώδεκα]] θεούς Ar.<br /><b class="num">III.</b> in Attic μά is often used [[alone]], [[mostly]] in negat. [[sense]] μὰ τὸν Ποσειδῶ Eur.:— in answers, [[when]] the [[negation]] is expressed in the [[question]], οὐκ αὖ μ' ἐάσεις; Answ. μὰ Δἴ (''[[sc.]]'' οὐκ ἐάσὠ Ar.<br /><b class="num">IV.</b> the [[name]] of the [[deity]] was often suppressed, ναὶ μὰ τόν, οὐ μὰ τόν Plat.