μά(A)[ᾰ], Particle used in asseverations and oaths, c. acc. of the deity or thing appealed to; in itself neither affirmative nor negative, but made so by prefixingναίorοὐ,or, in Att. , by the context: thus,
I. ναὶ μὰ. . , in affirmation,ναὶ μὰ τόδε σκῆπτρονyeabythis staff, Il. 1.234 , cf. h.Merc. 460 ; ναὶ μὰ γὰρ ὅρκον
Pi. N. 11.24
;ναὶ μὰ Δία, ναὶ μὰ τὸν Δία, etc., Ar. Ach. 88 , Pl. R. 407b , etc.; also μὰ ναί
Inscr.Cypr. 109
H.
II. οὐ μὰ. . , in negation,οὐ μὰ γὰρ Ἀπόλλωνα,οὐ μἀ Ζῆνα, nay,by. . , Il. 1.86 , 23.43 ; οὐ μὰ τὴν δέσποιναν Ἄρτεμιν
S. El. 626
; οὔ τοι μὰ τοὺς δώδεκα θεούς
Ar. Eq. 235
;οὐ μὰ τὸν Δία, οὔκουν οὕτω γε. . Pl. Tht. 142e .
III. after Hom.
μάis freq. used alone,
1. chiefly in negation when the negative follows, μὰ Δί' οὐκ εἶδον ἐμαυτοῦ ἀμείνω ὑλοτόμον