Intensive 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.

γέ (postpositive and enclitic) is an intensive and restrictive particle with the force of at least, at any rate, even, certainly, indeed; but often to be rendered by intonation. γέ may indicate assent, concession, banter, scorn, deprecation, irony, etc. γέ emphasizes single words or whole phrases or clauses.

a. Single words. So often with pronouns, as ἔγωγε I at least (excluding others), ἐμέ γε cp. mi-ch, ὅ γε even he (Hom.), οὗτός γε, and with a repeated pronoun (S. Ph. 117). Other words, as ὅ τι βούλει γε whatever you like Ar. Ran. 3, πλήθει γε οὐχ ὑπερβαλοίμεθ᾽ ἂν τοὺς πολεμίους in numbers at least we should not surpass the enemy X. C. 2.1.18.

b. With phrases or clauses. Thus, ὡς μή μ᾽ ἄτῑμον, τοῦ θεοῦ γε προστάτην, οὕτως ἀφῇ με that he may not thus send me away in dishonour—who am the suppliant of the god S. O. C. 1278, ἀνθρώπους τῑ́νυσθον, ὅτις γ᾽ ἐπίορκον ὀμόσσῃ ye who punish men who swear falsely Γ 279.

Intensive δή emphasizes, and makes definite, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and other words. Thus, ἅπαντες δή absolutely all, κράτιστοι δή the very best, μόνος δή quite alone, ὀλίγοι δή very few; οὕτω δή just so, ὥσπερ δή exactly as, πολλάκις δή very often, δῆλα δή quite plain, νῦν δή just now, now at once; ἐκεῖνος δή this (and no other), δ̀ς δή who indeed. With indefinite pronouns δή increases the indefiniteness (339 e); as ὅστις δή whoever at all. With other words: εἰ δή if indeed, οὐ δή no indeed, ἵνα δή that in truth.

a. With imperatives and in questions δή adds urgency; as ἄκουε δή pray listen! τί δή; why, pray?

‘Intensive’ Perfect.—Many perfects seem to denote an action rather than a state resulting from an action, and to be equivalent to strengthened presents. These are often called intensive perfects.

Such are: verbs of the senses (δέδορκα gaze, πέφρῑκα shudder), of sustained sound (κέκρᾱγα bawl, λέληκα shout, βέβρῡχα roar), of emotion (πεφόβημαι am filled with alarm, γέγηθα am glad, μέμηλε cares for), of gesture (κέχηνα keep the mouth agape), and many others (σεσῑ́γηκα am still, etc.).

a. But most if not all of the verbs in question may be regarded as true perfects, i.e. they denote a mental or physical state resulting from the accomplishment of the action; thus, πέφρῑκα I have shuddered and am now in a state of shuddering.

b. Certain verbs tend to appear in the perfect for emphasis: τέθνηκα am dead, ἀπόλωλα perish, πέπρᾱκα sell (have sold).