Strong G3303μέν
on the other hand
- Transliteration
- men
- Pronunciation
- men
- Morphology
- Greek Particle
Definition
A primary particle; properly indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with G1161 (this one the former etc.: - even indeed so some truly verily. Often compounded with other particles in an intensive or asseverative sense.
Detailed definition
μέν,
conjunctive particle (originally a form of μήν), usually related to a following δέ or other adversative conjunction, and distinguishing the word or clause with which it stands from that which follows.
It is generally untranslatable and is not nearly so frequent in NT as in cl. Like δέ, it never stands first in a clause.
1. Answered by δέ or some other particle: μὲν... δέ, indeed... but, Mat.3:11, Luk.3:16, al.; with pronouns, ὃς μὲν... ὃς δέ, one... another, Mat.21:35, al.; pl., Php.1:16, 17; ὃ μὲν... ὃ δὲ... ὃ δέ, some... some... some, Mat.13:8; τοῦτο μὲν... τοῦτο δέ, partly... partly, Heb.10:33; μὲν... ἔπειτα, Jhn.11:6; μὲν... καί, Luk.8:5.
2. μέν solitarium, answered by no other particle: πρῶτον μέν (Bl., l.with), Rom.1:8 3:2, 1Co.11:18; μὲν οὖν in narrative, summing up what precedes or introducing something further (Bl., §78, 5), so then, rather, nay rather: Luk.11:28 (WH, μενοῦν), Act.1:6 9:31, al.; μὲν οὖν γε (Php.3:8, WH): see: μενοῦνγε.
(AS)
conjunctive particle (originally a form of μήν), usually related to a following δέ or other adversative conjunction, and distinguishing the word or clause with which it stands from that which follows.
It is generally untranslatable and is not nearly so frequent in NT as in cl. Like δέ, it never stands first in a clause.
1. Answered by δέ or some other particle: μὲν... δέ, indeed... but, Mat.3:11, Luk.3:16, al.; with pronouns, ὃς μὲν... ὃς δέ, one... another, Mat.21:35, al.; pl., Php.1:16, 17; ὃ μὲν... ὃ δὲ... ὃ δέ, some... some... some, Mat.13:8; τοῦτο μὲν... τοῦτο δέ, partly... partly, Heb.10:33; μὲν... ἔπειτα, Jhn.11:6; μὲν... καί, Luk.8:5.
2. μέν solitarium, answered by no other particle: πρῶτον μέν (Bl., l.with), Rom.1:8 3:2, 1Co.11:18; μὲν οὖν in narrative, summing up what precedes or introducing something further (Bl., §78, 5), so then, rather, nay rather: Luk.11:28 (WH, μενοῦν), Act.1:6 9:31, al.; μὲν οὖν γε (Php.3:8, WH): see: μενοῦνγε.
(AS)
In the Bible
Strong G3303 appears in 193 verses of the KJV.
Translated in the KJV by
- indeed22
- verily13
- truly12
- some4
- and2
- even2
- one2
- when2
- as1
- but1
- for1
- if1
First verses
- Matthew 3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
- Matthew 9:37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
- Matthew 10:13And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
- Matthew 13:4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
- Matthew 13:8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
- Matthew 13:23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
- Matthew 13:32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
- Matthew 16:3And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
- Matthew 16:14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
- Matthew 17:11And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
- Matthew 20:23And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
- Matthew 21:35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
- Matthew 22:5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
- Matthew 22:8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
- Matthew 23:27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
- Matthew 23:28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
- Matthew 25:15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
- Matthew 25:33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
- Matthew 26:24The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
- Matthew 26:41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Occurrences by book
Related words
Word family
Detailed Greek dictionary
μέν,
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
A.I μέν used absolutely to express certainty, not followed by correlative δέ, indeed, of a truth, synonymous with μήν, as appears from the Epic dialect and Ionic dialect form ἦ μέν in protestations and oaths (where Attic dialect used ἦ μήν), καί μοι ὄμοσσον, ἦ μ. μοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν καὶ χερσὶν ἀρήξειν [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.77, compare 14.275; ἦ μέν τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 14.160, compare 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 24.416; τοῦτον ἐξορκοῖ, ἦ μέν οἱ διηκονήσειν 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 4.154, compare 5.93, etc.: with _negative_, οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακὸν βασιλευέμεν 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.392, etc.; ὤμοσα, μὴ μὲν.. ἀναφῆναι 4.254, compare 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.118, 179; ἔξαρνος ἦν, μὴ μὲν ἀποκτεῖναι [prev. author] 3.67, compare 99: without _negative_, ἀνδρὸς μὲν τόδε σῆμα πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 7.89)]: also in Trag., ἀκτὴ μὲν ἥδε τῆς περιρρύτου χθονός [Refs 8th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 1, compare 159 (_anapaest meter_), “OC” 44, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 676, 1129, etc.; καὶ μέν 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.269, 9.632, etc.; οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ.. 2.703, 12.212)]; γε μέν, compare γε [Refs (1.5.)]
A.I.2 an answering clause with δέ is sometimes implied, τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ σπουδῇ δάμνημ᾽ ἐπέεσσι her can I hardly subdue, [but all others easily], [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 5.893)]; ὡς μὲν λέγουσι as indeed they say, [but as I believe not], [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Orestes” 8)]; καὶ πρῶτον μὲν ἦν αὐτῷ πόλεμος (with no ἔπειτα δέ to follow), [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.9.14)]; so νῦν μέν σ᾽ ἀφήσω I will let you go this time, [Refs 3rd c.BC+ (3rd c.BC: Herodas Mimographus 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 [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 13.154)]; δοκεῖν μέν μοι ἥξει τήμερον [τὸ πλοῖον] [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Crito” 43d)]: hence with the person pronoun, ἐγὼ μέν νυν θεοῖσι ἔχω χάριν [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.71)]; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐδέν (i.e. θέλω) [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 498; ἐμοῦ μὲν οὐχ ἑκόντος [prev. author] “Aj.” 455; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ οἶδα 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 1.4.12, compare 4.2.45, etc.)]: with the demonstrative pronoun, τούτου μὲν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐγὼ σοφώτερός εἰμι [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Apologia” 21d: generally, to emphasize the preceding word, πολλὴ μὲν ἡ μεταβολή μοι γέγονεν)] great indeed has been the change, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Isaeus Orator 1.1, compare 4th-5th c.BC: Simonides Lyricus 5.1, etc.)]
A.I.3 μέν is used alone in questions, when the answer is assumed, I take it, θέμις μὲν ἡμᾶς χρησμὸν εἰδέναι θεο; [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 676, compare “Ion” 520 (troch.), “Hipp.” 316, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 634, 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Aves” 1214)]; Ἕλλην μέν ἐστι καὶ Ἑλληνίζε; [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Meno” 82b.)]
A.II μέν followed by δέ in the correlative clause or clauses, on the one hand, on the other hand; commonly in Classical Gr., less frequently in later Gr. (rare in NT
A.II.1 μέν.., δέ.. (or when the correlative clause is negative, μέν.., οὐδέ.., [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.318, 536))], to mark opposition, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus, etc.)]—The opposed clauses commonly stand together, but are frequently separated by clauses, parenthetic or explanatory; e.g. μέν in [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.494 is answered by δέ in 511, 527f)]; in [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.9.2, πρῶτον μέν is answered by ἐπεὶ δέ)] in <[Refs (*> 6; in [prev. author] “Mem.” 1.1.2, πρῶτον μέν is answered by θαυμαστὸν δέ in 1.2.1.)]
A.II.2 to connect a series of clauses containing different matter, though with no opposition, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.18s q., 306f (five δέ-clauses), 433f (eight δέ-clauses),compare 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.3.14, 7.10s q.: frequently when the members of a group or class are distinctly specified, παῖδες δύο, πρεσβύτερος μὲν Ἀρταξέρξης, νεώτερος δὲ Κῦρος [prev. work] 1.1.1; τάφρος.., τὸ μὲν εὖρος ὀργυιαὶ πέντε, τὸ δὲ βάθος ὀργυιαὶ τρεῖς [prev. work] 1.7.14; πρῶτος μέν.., δεύτερος δέ.., τρίτος δέ.. [prev. work] 5.6.9)]; τότε μέν.., τότε δέ.., at one time.., at another.., [Refs ([prev. work] 6.1.9, etc.: especially with the _Article_ used as a _pronoun_,)] ὁ μέν.., ὁ δέ..; τὸ μέν.., τὸ δέ.., etc.
A.II.3 the principal word is frequently repeated, οἳ περὶ μὲν βουλὴν Δαναῶν, περὶ δ᾽ ἐστὲ μάχεσθαι [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.258, compare 288, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 15.70; ἔνι μὲν φιλότης, ἐν δ᾽ ἵμερος, ἐν δ᾽ ὀαριστύς 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 14.216; Ξέρξης μὲν ἄγαγεν.., Ξέρξης δ᾽ ἀπώλεσεν 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Persae” 550, compare 560, 694, 700 (all Lyric poetry))]; χαλεπαίνει μὲν πρῳρεύς, χαλεπαίνει δὲ κυβερνήτης [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 5.8.20.)]
A.II.4 one of the correlative clauses is sometimes independent, while the other takes the participle or some other dependent form, ἐβλασφήμει κατ᾽ ἐμοῦ.., μάρτυρα μὲν.. οὐδένα παρασχόμενος.., παρεκελεύετο δέ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 57.11; οἱ ἀμφὶ βασιλέα, πεζοὶ μὲν οὐκέτι, τῶν δὲ ἱππέων ὁ λόφος ἐνεπλήσθη 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.10.12, compare 2.1.7, 5.6.29; ὧν ἐπιμεμφομένα σ᾽ ἁδεῖα μὲν ἀντία δ᾽ οἴσω 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 123, compare “OC” 522 (bothlyr.); χωρὶς μὲν τοῦ ἐστερῆσθαι.., ἔτι δὲ καὶ.. δόξω ἀμελῆσαι 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Crito” 44)] b.
A.II.5 μέν and δέ frequently oppose two clauses, whereof one is subordinate to the other in meaning or emphasis, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (ἀλλ᾽ ἐκεῖνο θαυμάζω, εἰ Λακεδαιμονίοις μέν ποτε.. ἀντήρατε,.. νυνὶ δὲ ὀκνεῖτ᾽ ἐξιέναι (for εἰ.. ἀντάραντες νυνὶ ὀκνεῖτε) 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 2.24, compare 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Iphigenia Taurica” 116, 5th c.BC: Lysias Orator 34.11, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Memorabilia” 2.7.11, etc.)]: so in an anacoluthon, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (τρία μὲν ὄντα.. ναυτικά.., τούτων δ᾽ εἰ περιόψεσθε τὰ δύο, κτλ., 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.36.)]
A.II.6 μέν is not always answered by δέ, but frequently by other equivalent Particles, as ἀλλά, Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.22f, 2.703f, 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 9.1, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Persae” 176, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.7.17:—by μέντοι, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.36, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 350, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 21.189, etc.:—by ἀτάρ, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 6.84, 124, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 342, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 1051s q., 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Theaetetus” 172c, etc. (so μέν.., αὐτάρ)] in Epic dialect, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.50, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 19.513, etc.):— by αὖ, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 11.108, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 4.210:—by αὖθις, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 165:—by αὖτε, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.234, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 22.5:—by temporal Particles, πρῶτα μέν.., εἶτα.. 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Electra” 261)]; πρῶτον μέν.., μετὰ τοῦτο.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 6.1.5 - 7)]; μάλιστα μὲν δὴ.., ἔπειτα μέντοι.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 350, compare “OT” 647:)] —rarely by μήν with negative, οὐδὲν μὴν κωλύει [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedrus” 268e; οὐ μὴν αὐταί γε [prev. author] “Phlb.” 12d.)]
A.II.6.b when the opposition is emphatic, δέ is sometimes strengthened, as ὅμως δέ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 785, “Ph.” 473, 1074, etc. (so ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως “El.” 450))]; δ᾽ αὖ.. [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 4.415, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.10.5)]; δ᾽ ἔμπης.. [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.561 - 2.)]
A.II.6.c μέν is sometimes answered by a copulative Particle, κάρτιστοι μὲν ἔσαν καὶ καρτίστοις ἐμάχοντο[Refs 8th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 267, compare 459, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 22.475, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 1, “Tr.” 689, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 125 (_anapaest meter_))], etc.: rarely in Prose, τρία μὲν ἔτη ἀντεῖχον.., καὶ οὐ πρότερον ἐνέδοσαν [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 2.65 (uncertain).)]
B μέν before other Particles:
B.I where each Particle retains its force,
B.I.1 μὲν ἄρα, in [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus μέν ῥα, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.1, 6.312, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.127, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedrus” 258d, “R.” 467d, etc.)]
B.I.2 μὲν γάρ [Refs 8th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 62, 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.142, etc.:— in 8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus)] there is frequently no second clause, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.173, 392, compare 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 1062, etc.; μὲν γὰρ δή 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 11.825; μὲν γάρ τε 17.727.)]
B.I.3 μέν γε, when a general statement is explained in detail, Κορινθίοις μέν γε ἔνσπονδοί ἐστε [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.40, compare 70, 6.86, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 6.46, 5th c.BC: Antipho Orator 5.14, 5th c.BC: Lysias Orator 13.27, 4th c.BC: Isaeus Orator 4.8, 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Nubes” 1382, “V.” 564, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Fragmenta” 909.4.)]
B.I.4 μὲν δή [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.514, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.32, etc.)]: frequently used to express positive certainty, ἀλλ᾽ οἶσθα μὲν δή [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 627, compare “OT” 294; τὰ μὲν δὴ τόξ᾽ ἔχεις [prev. author] “Ph.” 1308)]; especially as a conclusion, τοῦτο μὲν δὴ.. ὁμολογεῖται [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Gorgias” 470b, compare 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 1.1.6, etc.)]: in closing a statement, τοιαῦτα μὲν δὴ ταῦτα [Refs 8th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 500, etc.: used in answers to convey full assent, ἦ μὲν δή (compare supr. A) 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 9.348, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 4.33; καὶ μὲν δή.. γε 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 409b)]; οὐ μὲν δή, to deny positively, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 8.238, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 1.6.9, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Theaetetus” 148e, etc.; οὐ μὲν δή.. γε 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 2.2.3, 3.2.14)]; ἀλλ᾽ οὔ τι μὲν δή.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Theaetetus” 187a.)]
B.I.5 μὲν οὖν, see below 11.2.
B.II where the Particles combine so as to form a new sense,
B.II.1 μέν γε at all events, at any rate (not in Trag.), τοῦτο μέν γ᾽ ἤδη σαφές [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Acharnenses” 154, compare “Nu.” 1172, “Lys.” 1165, “Ra.” 80, 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 3.39; μέν γέ που 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 559b, “Tht.” 147a.)]
B.II.2 μὲν οὖν is frequently used with a corresponding δέ, so that each Particle retains its force, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 4.780, 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 1.111, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 244, 843; “Ph.” 359, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 2.5, etc.)]: but frequently also absolutely, so then, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 65; ταῦτα μὲν οὖν παραλείψω 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 2.3)]; especially in replies, sometimes in strong affirmation, παντάπασι μὲν οὖν [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Theaetetus” 158d; κομιδῇ μὲν οὖν [prev. work] 159e; πάνυ μὲν οὖν [prev. work] 159b; ἀνάγκη μὲν οὖν [prev. work] 189e)]; also to substitute a new statement so as to correct a preceding statement, nay rather, κακοδαίμω; Answ. βαρυδαίμων μὲν οὖν! [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ecclesiazusae” 1102)]; μου πρὸς τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποψῶ wipe your nose on my head: Answ. ἐμοῦ μὲν οὖν.. nay on mine, [Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. author] “Eq.” 911, compare 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Persae” 1032 (Lyric poetry), “Ag.” 1090 (Lyric poetry), 1396, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 1363, “El.” 1503, “OT” 705, 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ranae” 241, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Crito” 44b, “Grg.” 466a, 470b, “Prt.” 309d, etc.; also μὲν οὖν δή 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 153; καὶ δὴ μὲν οὖν [prev. author] “OC” 31)]; compare οὐμενοῦν: in “NT” μενοῦν and μενοῦνγε", to begin a sentence, yea rather, [NT+5th c.BC+ (NT.Luke.11.28, NT.Rom.9.20, etc., compare 2nd c.AD: Phrynichus Atticista 322, 5th c.AD(?): Hesychius Legal icographus —In _Ionic dialect_, μέν νυν is used for μὲν οὖν, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.18, 4.145, etc.)]
B.II.3 by μέν τε, if δέ τε follows, the two clauses are more closely combined than by τε.., τε.., [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 5.139, +others; μέν τε is frequently answered by δέ alone, 16.28, +others)]; by ἀλλά, αὐτάρ,[Refs 8th c.BC+ (17.727, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.215, +others)]; perhaps by ἠδέ, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 4.341:— 8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus also uses μέν τε)] absolutely, when τε loses its force, as after ἦ, τίς, etc., [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.145, +others)]
B.II.4 μέν τοι in [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus)] always occurs in speeches, where τοι can be regarded as the dative of the pronoun: later, μέντοι is written as a single word, and is used:
B.II.4.a with a conjunctive force, yet, nevertheless, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 320, 1054 (_anapaest meter_), 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 413, etc.)]; and sometimes stands for δέ, answering to μέν, see above [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus 11.6 a.)]
B.II.4.b as an adverb, in strong protestations, οὐ μέντοι μὰ Δία[Refs 4th c.BC+ (.. 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 4.49)]; in eager or positive assent, of course, φαμέν τι εἶναι..; Answ. φαμὲν μέντοι νὴ Δία [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedo” 65d, +others: with a _negative_ to give emphasis to a question, οὐ σὺ μέντοι..)]; why, are you not.. ? [Refs ([prev. author] “Prt.” 309a, compare “Phdr.” 229b, “R.” 339b, etc.: sometimes to express impatience, ὄμνυμι γάρ σοι—τίνα μέντοι, τίνα θεῶ; [prev. author] “Phdr.” 236d)]; τί μ. πρῶτον ἦν, τί πρῶτον ἦ; nay what was the first? [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Nubes” 787; οὗτος, σὲ λέγω μ. [prev. author] “Ra.” 171)]; σὺ μέντοι.. [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Lucianus Sophista “Alex.” 44: with _imperative_, to enforce the command, τουτὶ μ. σὺ φυλάττου)] only take heed.., [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Pax” 1100, compare “Av.” 661, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.4.8: in answers, γελοῖον μέντἂν εἴη)] nay it would be absurd, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Theaetetus” 158e)]; summing up a long temporal clause, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Andocides Orator 1.130.)]
B.II.4.c μέντοι γε [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 5.5.24, etc.; οὐ μ. γε 5th c.BC: Diogenes Apolloniates Philosophus 5: in later Gr. μέντοιγε)] stands first in the sentence, μ. οὐ θέλω [Refs 1st c.AD+ (“PLond.” 3.897.13 (1st c.AD))]; also γε μέντοι [Refs 5th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 938, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 778, 1292, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Hecuba” 600; ὅμως γε μ. 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ranae” 61.)]
B.II.4.d καὶ μ. καί is used to add a point to be noted, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (1st c.AD(?): Heraclitus 28, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 331d)]; also καί.. μ., νῦν σοι καιρός ἐστιν ἐπιδείξασθαι τὴν παιδείαν, καὶ φυλάξασθαι μέντοι.. and of course to take care.., [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 4.6.15 (variant), compare 1.8.20, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Protagoras” 339c, “Tht.” 143a.)]
B.II.4.e ἀλλὰ μέντοι well, if it comes to that, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 4.6.16)]; well, of course, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 331e, etc.)]; compare μέντον.
C for μέν after other Particles, see each Particle.
D Position of μέν. Like δέ, it usually 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 [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 63)]; οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι ἐτάξαντο μέν.., ἡσύχαζον δέ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 4.73, compare 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: sometimes however it precedes them, ὡς μὲν ἐγὼ οἶμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedrus” 228b; ὡς μέν τινες ἔφασαν 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 5.2.28)]. It generally stands between the Article and Noun, or the preposition and its Case: but if special stress is laid on the Noun, this is sometimes neglected, as οἱ Τεγεᾶται μὲν ἐπηυλίσαντο, Μαντινῆς δὲ ἀπεχώρησαν [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 4.134)]; ἀνὰ τὸ σκοτεινὸν μέν.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. author] 3.22; also τῇ σῇ μὲν εὐδαιμονίῃ, τῇ ἐμεωυτοῦ δὲ κακοδαιμονίῃ 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.87)].
D.II μέν is frequently repeated:
D.II.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.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.6.9, compare 5.8.24, 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 8.104, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 18.214, 23.208.)]
D.II.2 in apodosi with the demonstrative pronoun or adverb, τὸν μὲν καλέουσι θέρος, τοῦτον μὲν προσκυνέουσι, τὸν δὲ χειμῶνα[Refs 5th c.BC+ (.. 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.121; ὅσοι μὲν δὴ νομοῦ τοῦ Θηβαίου εἰσί, οὗτοι μέν [νυν].. αἶγας θύουσι· ὅσοι δὲ.. νομοῦ τοῦ Μενδησίου εἰσί, οὗτοι δὲ.. ὄϊς θύουσι [prev. work] 42, compare 3.108, +others)]; ὅτε μέν με οἱ ἄρχοντες ἔταττον.., τότε μὲν ἔμενον.., τοῦ δὲ θεοῦ τάττοντος,.. ἐνταῦθα δέ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Apologia” 28e, compare “Grg.” 512a.)]
D.II.3 μέν used absolutely is frequently followed by a correlative μέν, εἰ μὲν οὖν ἡμεῖς μὲν.. ποιοῦμεν [Refs ([prev. author] “R.” 421a.)]
D.III μέν is sometimes omitted (especially in Poetry) where it is implied in the following δέ, φεύγων, ὁ δ᾽ ὄπισθε διώκων [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 22.157; ἐλευθεροῦτε πατρίδ᾽, ἐλευθεροῦτε δὲ παῖδας 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Persae” 403; σφραγῖδε.. χρυσοῦν ἔχουσα τὸν δακτύλιον, ἡ δ᾽ ἑτέρα ἀργυροῦν “IG” 22.1388.45, compare 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Nubes” 396, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Sophista” 221e, 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Poetica” 1447b14, etc.)]
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
A.I μέν used absolutely to express certainty, not followed by correlative δέ, indeed, of a truth, synonymous with μήν, as appears from the Epic dialect and Ionic dialect form ἦ μέν in protestations and oaths (where Attic dialect used ἦ μήν), καί μοι ὄμοσσον, ἦ μ. μοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν καὶ χερσὶν ἀρήξειν [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.77, compare 14.275; ἦ μέν τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 14.160, compare 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 24.416; τοῦτον ἐξορκοῖ, ἦ μέν οἱ διηκονήσειν 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 4.154, compare 5.93, etc.: with _negative_, οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακὸν βασιλευέμεν 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.392, etc.; ὤμοσα, μὴ μὲν.. ἀναφῆναι 4.254, compare 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.118, 179; ἔξαρνος ἦν, μὴ μὲν ἀποκτεῖναι [prev. author] 3.67, compare 99: without _negative_, ἀνδρὸς μὲν τόδε σῆμα πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 7.89)]: also in Trag., ἀκτὴ μὲν ἥδε τῆς περιρρύτου χθονός [Refs 8th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 1, compare 159 (_anapaest meter_), “OC” 44, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 676, 1129, etc.; καὶ μέν 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.269, 9.632, etc.; οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ.. 2.703, 12.212)]; γε μέν, compare γε [Refs (1.5.)]
A.I.2 an answering clause with δέ is sometimes implied, τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ σπουδῇ δάμνημ᾽ ἐπέεσσι her can I hardly subdue, [but all others easily], [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 5.893)]; ὡς μὲν λέγουσι as indeed they say, [but as I believe not], [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Orestes” 8)]; καὶ πρῶτον μὲν ἦν αὐτῷ πόλεμος (with no ἔπειτα δέ to follow), [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.9.14)]; so νῦν μέν σ᾽ ἀφήσω I will let you go this time, [Refs 3rd c.BC+ (3rd c.BC: Herodas Mimographus 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 [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 13.154)]; δοκεῖν μέν μοι ἥξει τήμερον [τὸ πλοῖον] [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Crito” 43d)]: hence with the person pronoun, ἐγὼ μέν νυν θεοῖσι ἔχω χάριν [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.71)]; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐδέν (i.e. θέλω) [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 498; ἐμοῦ μὲν οὐχ ἑκόντος [prev. author] “Aj.” 455; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ οἶδα 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 1.4.12, compare 4.2.45, etc.)]: with the demonstrative pronoun, τούτου μὲν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐγὼ σοφώτερός εἰμι [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Apologia” 21d: generally, to emphasize the preceding word, πολλὴ μὲν ἡ μεταβολή μοι γέγονεν)] great indeed has been the change, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Isaeus Orator 1.1, compare 4th-5th c.BC: Simonides Lyricus 5.1, etc.)]
A.I.3 μέν is used alone in questions, when the answer is assumed, I take it, θέμις μὲν ἡμᾶς χρησμὸν εἰδέναι θεο; [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 676, compare “Ion” 520 (troch.), “Hipp.” 316, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 634, 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Aves” 1214)]; Ἕλλην μέν ἐστι καὶ Ἑλληνίζε; [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Meno” 82b.)]
A.II μέν followed by δέ in the correlative clause or clauses, on the one hand, on the other hand; commonly in Classical Gr., less frequently in later Gr. (rare in NT
A.II.1 μέν.., δέ.. (or when the correlative clause is negative, μέν.., οὐδέ.., [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.318, 536))], to mark opposition, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus, etc.)]—The opposed clauses commonly stand together, but are frequently separated by clauses, parenthetic or explanatory; e.g. μέν in [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.494 is answered by δέ in 511, 527f)]; in [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.9.2, πρῶτον μέν is answered by ἐπεὶ δέ)] in <[Refs (*> 6; in [prev. author] “Mem.” 1.1.2, πρῶτον μέν is answered by θαυμαστὸν δέ in 1.2.1.)]
A.II.2 to connect a series of clauses containing different matter, though with no opposition, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.18s q., 306f (five δέ-clauses), 433f (eight δέ-clauses),compare 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.3.14, 7.10s q.: frequently when the members of a group or class are distinctly specified, παῖδες δύο, πρεσβύτερος μὲν Ἀρταξέρξης, νεώτερος δὲ Κῦρος [prev. work] 1.1.1; τάφρος.., τὸ μὲν εὖρος ὀργυιαὶ πέντε, τὸ δὲ βάθος ὀργυιαὶ τρεῖς [prev. work] 1.7.14; πρῶτος μέν.., δεύτερος δέ.., τρίτος δέ.. [prev. work] 5.6.9)]; τότε μέν.., τότε δέ.., at one time.., at another.., [Refs ([prev. work] 6.1.9, etc.: especially with the _Article_ used as a _pronoun_,)] ὁ μέν.., ὁ δέ..; τὸ μέν.., τὸ δέ.., etc.
A.II.3 the principal word is frequently repeated, οἳ περὶ μὲν βουλὴν Δαναῶν, περὶ δ᾽ ἐστὲ μάχεσθαι [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.258, compare 288, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 15.70; ἔνι μὲν φιλότης, ἐν δ᾽ ἵμερος, ἐν δ᾽ ὀαριστύς 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 14.216; Ξέρξης μὲν ἄγαγεν.., Ξέρξης δ᾽ ἀπώλεσεν 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Persae” 550, compare 560, 694, 700 (all Lyric poetry))]; χαλεπαίνει μὲν πρῳρεύς, χαλεπαίνει δὲ κυβερνήτης [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 5.8.20.)]
A.II.4 one of the correlative clauses is sometimes independent, while the other takes the participle or some other dependent form, ἐβλασφήμει κατ᾽ ἐμοῦ.., μάρτυρα μὲν.. οὐδένα παρασχόμενος.., παρεκελεύετο δέ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 57.11; οἱ ἀμφὶ βασιλέα, πεζοὶ μὲν οὐκέτι, τῶν δὲ ἱππέων ὁ λόφος ἐνεπλήσθη 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.10.12, compare 2.1.7, 5.6.29; ὧν ἐπιμεμφομένα σ᾽ ἁδεῖα μὲν ἀντία δ᾽ οἴσω 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 123, compare “OC” 522 (bothlyr.); χωρὶς μὲν τοῦ ἐστερῆσθαι.., ἔτι δὲ καὶ.. δόξω ἀμελῆσαι 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Crito” 44)] b.
A.II.5 μέν and δέ frequently oppose two clauses, whereof one is subordinate to the other in meaning or emphasis, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (ἀλλ᾽ ἐκεῖνο θαυμάζω, εἰ Λακεδαιμονίοις μέν ποτε.. ἀντήρατε,.. νυνὶ δὲ ὀκνεῖτ᾽ ἐξιέναι (for εἰ.. ἀντάραντες νυνὶ ὀκνεῖτε) 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 2.24, compare 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Iphigenia Taurica” 116, 5th c.BC: Lysias Orator 34.11, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Memorabilia” 2.7.11, etc.)]: so in an anacoluthon, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (τρία μὲν ὄντα.. ναυτικά.., τούτων δ᾽ εἰ περιόψεσθε τὰ δύο, κτλ., 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.36.)]
A.II.6 μέν is not always answered by δέ, but frequently by other equivalent Particles, as ἀλλά, Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.22f, 2.703f, 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 9.1, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Persae” 176, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.7.17:—by μέντοι, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.36, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 350, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 21.189, etc.:—by ἀτάρ, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 6.84, 124, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 342, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 1051s q., 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Theaetetus” 172c, etc. (so μέν.., αὐτάρ)] in Epic dialect, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.50, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 19.513, etc.):— by αὖ, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 11.108, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 4.210:—by αὖθις, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 165:—by αὖτε, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.234, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 22.5:—by temporal Particles, πρῶτα μέν.., εἶτα.. 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Electra” 261)]; πρῶτον μέν.., μετὰ τοῦτο.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 6.1.5 - 7)]; μάλιστα μὲν δὴ.., ἔπειτα μέντοι.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 350, compare “OT” 647:)] —rarely by μήν with negative, οὐδὲν μὴν κωλύει [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedrus” 268e; οὐ μὴν αὐταί γε [prev. author] “Phlb.” 12d.)]
A.II.6.b when the opposition is emphatic, δέ is sometimes strengthened, as ὅμως δέ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 785, “Ph.” 473, 1074, etc. (so ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως “El.” 450))]; δ᾽ αὖ.. [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 4.415, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.10.5)]; δ᾽ ἔμπης.. [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.561 - 2.)]
A.II.6.c μέν is sometimes answered by a copulative Particle, κάρτιστοι μὲν ἔσαν καὶ καρτίστοις ἐμάχοντο[Refs 8th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 267, compare 459, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 22.475, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 1, “Tr.” 689, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 125 (_anapaest meter_))], etc.: rarely in Prose, τρία μὲν ἔτη ἀντεῖχον.., καὶ οὐ πρότερον ἐνέδοσαν [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 2.65 (uncertain).)]
B μέν before other Particles:
B.I where each Particle retains its force,
B.I.1 μὲν ἄρα, in [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus μέν ῥα, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.1, 6.312, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.127, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedrus” 258d, “R.” 467d, etc.)]
B.I.2 μὲν γάρ [Refs 8th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 62, 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.142, etc.:— in 8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus)] there is frequently no second clause, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.173, 392, compare 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 1062, etc.; μὲν γὰρ δή 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 11.825; μὲν γάρ τε 17.727.)]
B.I.3 μέν γε, when a general statement is explained in detail, Κορινθίοις μέν γε ἔνσπονδοί ἐστε [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.40, compare 70, 6.86, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 6.46, 5th c.BC: Antipho Orator 5.14, 5th c.BC: Lysias Orator 13.27, 4th c.BC: Isaeus Orator 4.8, 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Nubes” 1382, “V.” 564, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Fragmenta” 909.4.)]
B.I.4 μὲν δή [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.514, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.32, etc.)]: frequently used to express positive certainty, ἀλλ᾽ οἶσθα μὲν δή [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 627, compare “OT” 294; τὰ μὲν δὴ τόξ᾽ ἔχεις [prev. author] “Ph.” 1308)]; especially as a conclusion, τοῦτο μὲν δὴ.. ὁμολογεῖται [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Gorgias” 470b, compare 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 1.1.6, etc.)]: in closing a statement, τοιαῦτα μὲν δὴ ταῦτα [Refs 8th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 500, etc.: used in answers to convey full assent, ἦ μὲν δή (compare supr. A) 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 9.348, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 4.33; καὶ μὲν δή.. γε 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 409b)]; οὐ μὲν δή, to deny positively, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 8.238, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 1.6.9, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Theaetetus” 148e, etc.; οὐ μὲν δή.. γε 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 2.2.3, 3.2.14)]; ἀλλ᾽ οὔ τι μὲν δή.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Theaetetus” 187a.)]
B.I.5 μὲν οὖν, see below 11.2.
B.II where the Particles combine so as to form a new sense,
B.II.1 μέν γε at all events, at any rate (not in Trag.), τοῦτο μέν γ᾽ ἤδη σαφές [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Acharnenses” 154, compare “Nu.” 1172, “Lys.” 1165, “Ra.” 80, 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 3.39; μέν γέ που 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 559b, “Tht.” 147a.)]
B.II.2 μὲν οὖν is frequently used with a corresponding δέ, so that each Particle retains its force, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 4.780, 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 1.111, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 244, 843; “Ph.” 359, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 2.5, etc.)]: but frequently also absolutely, so then, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 65; ταῦτα μὲν οὖν παραλείψω 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 2.3)]; especially in replies, sometimes in strong affirmation, παντάπασι μὲν οὖν [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Theaetetus” 158d; κομιδῇ μὲν οὖν [prev. work] 159e; πάνυ μὲν οὖν [prev. work] 159b; ἀνάγκη μὲν οὖν [prev. work] 189e)]; also to substitute a new statement so as to correct a preceding statement, nay rather, κακοδαίμω; Answ. βαρυδαίμων μὲν οὖν! [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ecclesiazusae” 1102)]; μου πρὸς τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποψῶ wipe your nose on my head: Answ. ἐμοῦ μὲν οὖν.. nay on mine, [Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. author] “Eq.” 911, compare 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Persae” 1032 (Lyric poetry), “Ag.” 1090 (Lyric poetry), 1396, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 1363, “El.” 1503, “OT” 705, 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ranae” 241, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Crito” 44b, “Grg.” 466a, 470b, “Prt.” 309d, etc.; also μὲν οὖν δή 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 153; καὶ δὴ μὲν οὖν [prev. author] “OC” 31)]; compare οὐμενοῦν: in “NT” μενοῦν and μενοῦνγε", to begin a sentence, yea rather, [NT+5th c.BC+ (NT.Luke.11.28, NT.Rom.9.20, etc., compare 2nd c.AD: Phrynichus Atticista 322, 5th c.AD(?): Hesychius Legal icographus —In _Ionic dialect_, μέν νυν is used for μὲν οὖν, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.18, 4.145, etc.)]
B.II.3 by μέν τε, if δέ τε follows, the two clauses are more closely combined than by τε.., τε.., [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 5.139, +others; μέν τε is frequently answered by δέ alone, 16.28, +others)]; by ἀλλά, αὐτάρ,[Refs 8th c.BC+ (17.727, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.215, +others)]; perhaps by ἠδέ, [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 4.341:— 8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus also uses μέν τε)] absolutely, when τε loses its force, as after ἦ, τίς, etc., [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.145, +others)]
B.II.4 μέν τοι in [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus)] always occurs in speeches, where τοι can be regarded as the dative of the pronoun: later, μέντοι is written as a single word, and is used:
B.II.4.a with a conjunctive force, yet, nevertheless, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 320, 1054 (_anapaest meter_), 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 413, etc.)]; and sometimes stands for δέ, answering to μέν, see above [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus 11.6 a.)]
B.II.4.b as an adverb, in strong protestations, οὐ μέντοι μὰ Δία[Refs 4th c.BC+ (.. 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 4.49)]; in eager or positive assent, of course, φαμέν τι εἶναι..; Answ. φαμὲν μέντοι νὴ Δία [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedo” 65d, +others: with a _negative_ to give emphasis to a question, οὐ σὺ μέντοι..)]; why, are you not.. ? [Refs ([prev. author] “Prt.” 309a, compare “Phdr.” 229b, “R.” 339b, etc.: sometimes to express impatience, ὄμνυμι γάρ σοι—τίνα μέντοι, τίνα θεῶ; [prev. author] “Phdr.” 236d)]; τί μ. πρῶτον ἦν, τί πρῶτον ἦ; nay what was the first? [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Nubes” 787; οὗτος, σὲ λέγω μ. [prev. author] “Ra.” 171)]; σὺ μέντοι.. [Refs 2nd c.AD+ (2nd c.AD: Lucianus Sophista “Alex.” 44: with _imperative_, to enforce the command, τουτὶ μ. σὺ φυλάττου)] only take heed.., [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Pax” 1100, compare “Av.” 661, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.4.8: in answers, γελοῖον μέντἂν εἴη)] nay it would be absurd, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Theaetetus” 158e)]; summing up a long temporal clause, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Andocides Orator 1.130.)]
B.II.4.c μέντοι γε [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 5.5.24, etc.; οὐ μ. γε 5th c.BC: Diogenes Apolloniates Philosophus 5: in later Gr. μέντοιγε)] stands first in the sentence, μ. οὐ θέλω [Refs 1st c.AD+ (“PLond.” 3.897.13 (1st c.AD))]; also γε μέντοι [Refs 5th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 938, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 778, 1292, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Hecuba” 600; ὅμως γε μ. 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ranae” 61.)]
B.II.4.d καὶ μ. καί is used to add a point to be noted, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (1st c.AD(?): Heraclitus 28, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 331d)]; also καί.. μ., νῦν σοι καιρός ἐστιν ἐπιδείξασθαι τὴν παιδείαν, καὶ φυλάξασθαι μέντοι.. and of course to take care.., [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 4.6.15 (variant), compare 1.8.20, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Protagoras” 339c, “Tht.” 143a.)]
B.II.4.e ἀλλὰ μέντοι well, if it comes to that, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 4.6.16)]; well, of course, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 331e, etc.)]; compare μέντον.
C for μέν after other Particles, see each Particle.
D Position of μέν. Like δέ, it usually 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 [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 63)]; οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι ἐτάξαντο μέν.., ἡσύχαζον δέ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 4.73, compare 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: sometimes however it precedes them, ὡς μὲν ἐγὼ οἶμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedrus” 228b; ὡς μέν τινες ἔφασαν 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 5.2.28)]. It generally stands between the Article and Noun, or the preposition and its Case: but if special stress is laid on the Noun, this is sometimes neglected, as οἱ Τεγεᾶται μὲν ἐπηυλίσαντο, Μαντινῆς δὲ ἀπεχώρησαν [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 4.134)]; ἀνὰ τὸ σκοτεινὸν μέν.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. author] 3.22; also τῇ σῇ μὲν εὐδαιμονίῃ, τῇ ἐμεωυτοῦ δὲ κακοδαιμονίῃ 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.87)].
D.II μέν is frequently repeated:
D.II.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.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 1.6.9, compare 5.8.24, 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 8.104, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 18.214, 23.208.)]
D.II.2 in apodosi with the demonstrative pronoun or adverb, τὸν μὲν καλέουσι θέρος, τοῦτον μὲν προσκυνέουσι, τὸν δὲ χειμῶνα[Refs 5th c.BC+ (.. 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.121; ὅσοι μὲν δὴ νομοῦ τοῦ Θηβαίου εἰσί, οὗτοι μέν [νυν].. αἶγας θύουσι· ὅσοι δὲ.. νομοῦ τοῦ Μενδησίου εἰσί, οὗτοι δὲ.. ὄϊς θύουσι [prev. work] 42, compare 3.108, +others)]; ὅτε μέν με οἱ ἄρχοντες ἔταττον.., τότε μὲν ἔμενον.., τοῦ δὲ θεοῦ τάττοντος,.. ἐνταῦθα δέ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Apologia” 28e, compare “Grg.” 512a.)]
D.II.3 μέν used absolutely is frequently followed by a correlative μέν, εἰ μὲν οὖν ἡμεῖς μὲν.. ποιοῦμεν [Refs ([prev. author] “R.” 421a.)]
D.III μέν is sometimes omitted (especially in Poetry) where it is implied in the following δέ, φεύγων, ὁ δ᾽ ὄπισθε διώκων [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 22.157; ἐλευθεροῦτε πατρίδ᾽, ἐλευθεροῦτε δὲ παῖδας 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Persae” 403; σφραγῖδε.. χρυσοῦν ἔχουσα τὸν δακτύλιον, ἡ δ᾽ ἑτέρα ἀργυροῦν “IG” 22.1388.45, compare 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Nubes” 396, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Sophista” 221e, 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Poetica” 1447b14, etc.)]