Chapter 669 A School Grammar of Attic Greek Dickinson College Christopher Francese

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669

a. *Μέν, a weaker form of μήν (671 a), implies that the word before it, or the phrase in which it stands, is thought of as contrasted with something that is to follow; the second contrasted member is usually marked by a *δέ, sometimes by ἀλλά or some other adversative conjunction, but is sometimes left unexpressed. μέν and δέ are very frequent, marking a great variety of contrasted ideas, often where English or Latin would use for the former member a concessive clause, introduced by although and the like. Note that δέ is always a conjunction; hence μέν . . . δέ can be used only when the second member requires a but or and. b. *Μέντοι (μέν and τοι, 671 e) generally marks a contrast or a transition to a different topic, however, yet. But sometimes the older force of μέν (=μήν) is more prominent--certainly, surely. So sometimes in other combinations, as πάνυ μὲν οὖν assuredly, certainly.