μέν: Difference between revisions

|mdlsjtxt=<br /><b class="num">I.</b> Particle, used to [[show]] that the [[word]] or [[clause]] with [[which]] it stands answers to a [[following]] [[word]] or [[clause]], [[which]] is introduced by δέ. Generally, μέν and δέ may be rendered on the one [[hand]], on the [[other]] [[hand]], or as well…, as, [[while]] or [[whereas]], but it is often [[necessary]] to [[leave]] μέν untranslated.<br /><b class="num">2.</b> μέν is not [[always]] answered by δέ, but by [[other]] equiv. Particles, as [[ἀλλά]], [[ἀτάρ]] or [[αὐτάρ]], αὖ, [[αὖθις]], [[αὖτε]]; also πρῶτον μέν, [[εἶτα]] Soph.; πρῶτον μέν, [[ἔπειτα]] Soph.; πρῶτον μέν, μετὰ [[τοῦτο]] Xen.<br /><b class="num">3.</b> the [[answering]] [[clause]] with δέ is [[sometimes]] [[left]] to be supplied, ὡς μὲν λέγουσι as [[indeed]] they say, (but as I [[believe]] not), Eur.; [[this]] [[isolated]] μέν is often a Pron., ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ [[οἶδα]] I for my [[part]], ([[whatever]] others may say), Xen.; [[οὗτος]] μέν Plat.<br /><b class="num">4.</b> μέν was orig. the [[same]] as μήν, and like it is used in protestations, καί μοι ὄμοσσον, ἦ μέν μοι ἀρήξειν and [[swear]] to me, that [[surely]] thou wilt [[assist]] me, Il.<br /><b class="num">II.</b> μέν [[before]] [[other]] Particles: μὲν ἄρα, μέν ῥα [[accordingly]], and so, Hom., etc.<br /><b class="num">2.</b> μέν γε, used [[much]] like [[γοῦν]], at all events, at any [[rate]], Ar., etc.<br /><b class="num">3.</b> μὲν δή to [[express]] [[certainty]], Soph., etc.<br /><b class="num">4.</b> μὲν οὖν or μενοῦν, a strengthened [[form]] of οὖν, so then, Soph.; in replies, it affirms [[strongly]], [[πάνυ]] μὲν οὖν Plat., etc.; also it corrects a [[statement]], nay [[rather]], like Lat. imo, imo [[vero]], μου πρὸς τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποψῶ [[wipe]] [[your]] [[nose]] on my [[head]], Answ. [[ἐμοῦ]] μὲν οὖν…, nay on [[mine]], Ar., etc.; μὲν οὖν δή Soph.:—so in NTest., μενοῦνγε, to [[begin]] a [[sentence]], yea [[rather]], Lat. [[quin]] imo.<br /><b class="num">5.</b> μέν τοι or [[μέντοι]],<br />a. conjunctive, yet, but [[however]], [[nevertheless]], [[tamen]], [[vero]], Aesch., etc.<br />b. Adverbial, of [[course]], [[certainly]], Plat., etc.; with an imperat., to [[enforce]] the [[command]], τουτὶ [[μέντοι]] σὺ φυλάττου only [[take]] [[heed]]…, Ar.; strengthened [[μέντοι]] γε Xen.:—in [[narrative]], etc., to add [[something]], καὶ φυλάξασθαι [[μέντοι]]…, and of [[course]] to [[take]] [[care]]…, Xen.