Chapter 671 A School Grammar of Attic Greek Dickinson College Christopher Francese

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671 Several particles are intensive, denoting emphasis or stress, of slightly varying degree and kind.

a. Mήν in truth is the strongest, often giving prominence to the whole statement rather than to a single word; ἦ μήν verily introduces the formula of an oath; καὶ μὴν and surely, and see, in tragedy often calls attention to a newcomer. The weakened form μέν sometimes retains a similar force (cp. 669). b. The enclitic *γε emphasises the preceding word by restriction. At least has a like force, but is usually too strong; a slight stress of voice is sometimes the only translation possible. *γοῦν (γε and οὖν, 673 a) is a stronger at least, at any rate. c. The most untranslatable and elusive is a *δή. (1) Its force falls on a single preceding word (though another particle may intervene), marking the idea as obvious, definite, positive; δῆλα δή quite plain, πολλοὶ δή a great many, κάλλιστος δή the very finest, clearly the finest, οὕτως δή in just this way, ποῦ δή; where, pray? εἰ δή if indeed, ὁρᾶτε δή you see, of course, τότε δή then indeed. Sometimes it gives an ironical tone, forsooth, as he claims. (2) Its force extends to a whole clause, near the beginning of which it stands; it then marks the statement as obvious, to be expected under the circumstances; it may thus become inferential, of course, you see, clearly, accordingly. d. The form a *δῆτα surely is a stronger, δήπου (δή and που) a weaker δή. δήπου is often ironical, doubtless, I suppose. δῆθεν is almost always ironical, forsooth. e. The enclitic *τοι is by origin a for dative of σύ (older τύ); thus it calls the listenerʼs attention to the statement, as one that concerns him. The translation is various; doubtless, you knοw, be assured, have a similar tone, but are usually too strong. Frequent compounds are μέντοι (669 b), οὔτοι surely not. For τοίνυν, etc., see 673 b.