Asseverative particles

As regards their meaning, particles may be arranged in classes, e.g adversative, affirmative, asseverative, concessive, confirmative, conjunctive, infer ential, intensive, interrogative, limitative, negative, etc. These classes canno<*> always be sharply distinguished: some particles fall under two or more classes Many particles, which serve to set forth the logical relation between clauses, ha<*> originally only an intensive or confirmatory force that was confined to their ow<*> clause. The following sections deal only with the commoner uses of the most noteworthy particles.

Asseverative ἦ (prepositive) in truth, in sooth, verily, upon my honour, etc.; as ἦ καλῶς λέγεις P. G. 447c.

μά asseverative (cp. μήν, μέν asseverative) with the accusative of the divinity or thing by which one swears. In negative sentences we have οὐ μά or μά alone with the accusative; in affirmative sentences, ναὶ μά, but more commonly νή. The omission of the accusative may sometimes be due to indecision or to indifference and not always to scrupulousness (1596 c). μά means properly in truth, verily; but apparently governs the accusative after the ellipse of such verbs as I call to witness.

μέν was originally an asseverative, emphatic particle (surely, certainly, indeed) and a weaker form of μήν. Cp. Epic ἦ μέν, καὶ μέν, οὐ μέν in asseverations and protestations. Asseverative μέν survived as μέν solitarium and in combination with other particles. Antithetical (concessive) μέν owes its origin to the fact that, as emphasis. may indicate a contrast, the clause in which μέν stood was felt as preliminary to an adversative member of the sentence. Through association with this adversative member μέν gradually lost its primitive asseverative force.

μέντοι (postpositive) from μέν (= μήν, 2895) + τοί, is an asseverative and adversative particle.

μήν (postpositive): (1) asseverative, in truth, surely; (2) adversative, especially after a negative, yet, however. The forms μήν (Hom., Att.), μᾱ́ν (Hom., Lesb., Dor., lyric parts of tragedy), μέν truly (Hom., Att.) and μά in oaths are all connected. μήν emphasizes either a whole statement or a single word.

ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται for thus I will declare, and verily it shall be accomplished Ψ 410; καλὸν μὲν ἡ ἀλήθεια . . ., ἔοικε μὴν οὐ ῥᾴδιον πείθειν truth is a fine thing, yet it does not seem an easy thing to persuade P. L. 663e, εἰ δ᾽ ἄγε μήν come now, on then A 302, οὐδὲν μὴν κωλῡ́ει but nothing hinders P. Phae. 268e.

ναί (cp. Lat. nae) asseverative (truly, yea), with the accusative in oaths where it is usually followed by μά (1596 b). ναί yes, in answers, is found only in Attic.

νή (cp. Lat. neē) asseverative (truly, yea), with the accusative in oaths, and only in an affirmative sense. νή is found only in Attic. See 1596 b.