STEP Liddell–Scott–Jones: μήν

Study List and notes

Text size 19pxWidth Theme

Gloss

certainly

μήν,

Doric dialect [[(5th c.BC: Epicharmus Comicus 78, etc.)] Refs 5th c.BC+], Aeolic dialect [[(7th-6th c.BC: Sappho Lyrica “Papyrus fragments” in E. Diehl, 23.5, etc.)] Refs 7th c.BC+], and old Epic dialect μάν (in Hom.always followed by a vowel except [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 5.895, 765, whereas μήν] Refs 8th c.BC+] is followed by a consonant except in [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 19.45 ] Refs 8th c.BC+]; original μάν has probably been changed to μέν except when the metre prevented), a Particle used to strengthen asseverations, verily, truly; a synonym of μέν but stronger, and like it always following the word which begins the clause, ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μ. τετελεσμένον ἔσται and so verily.., [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 23.410 ] Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἴστε μὰν.. ye know doubtless, [[ 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “I.” 4(3).35: frequently with _imperative_, ἄγε μ.] Refs 5th c.BC+] on then, [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.302; ἄγρει μάν 5.765; ἄναγε μάν 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Choephori” 963 (Lyric poetry); ἕπεο μάν 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Coloneus” 182 (Lyric poetry). ] Refs 8th c.BC+]

__II after other Particles,

__II.1 ἦ μήν, now verily, full surely, ἦ μὴν καὶ πόνος ἐστίν [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.291, compare “hymnus ad Apollinem” 87, 8th-7th c.BC: Hesiodus Epicus “Scutum Herculis” 101; ἦ μάν 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.370, 13.354, Sapph.[same place], 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “P.” 4.40, +others (εἶ μάν “IG” 5 (1).1390.27 (Andania, 1st c.BC))] Refs 8th c.BC+]: strengthened, ἦ δὴ μάν [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 17.538 ] Refs 8th c.BC+]: frequently later in strong protestations or oaths, with infinitive, ὄμνυσι δ᾽ ἦ μὴν λαπάξειν [[ 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Septem contra Thebas” 531, compare 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 1186, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 2.3.26: in negation, ἦ μ. μή.. 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 8.81, etc. (but also ὀμνύω μὴ μὰν φρονησεῖν “SIG” 527.36 (Crete, 3rd c.BC))] Refs 5th c.BC+]: in Prose also to begin an independent clause, ὀμνύω.., ἦ μ. ἐγὼ ἐθυόμην [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 6.1.31; καὶ νὴ τὸν κύνα,.. ἦ μ. ἐγὼ ἔπαθόν τι τοιοῦτον 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Apologia” 22a. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]

Browse lexicon entries

__II.2 καὶ μήν, sometimes simply to add an asseveration, see entry [near the start],[[compare 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “N.” 2.13, etc.; καὶ δὴ μάν 3rd c.BC: Theocritus Poeta Bucolicus 7.120 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]: frequently to introduce something new or deserving special attention, καὶ μὴν Τάνταλον εἰσεῖδον [[ 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 11.582, compare 593, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 459, “Pers.” 406, etc.] Refs 8th c.BC+]; especially in dramatic Poets to mark the entrance of a person on the stage, here comes.., [[ [prev. author] “Th.” 372, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Electra” 339; also ὅδε μ. Αἵμων 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 626 (_anapaest meter_)] Refs 5th c.BC+], etc.; of new facts, and besides, nay more, καὶ μήν.. γε [[ 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 982, compare 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Pax” 369, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Symposium” 4.15, etc.] Refs 5th c.BC+]; in Orators to introduce new arguments, καὶ μήν.. γε [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Theaetetus” 153b, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 21.56 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; to introduce a counter-argument, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Nubes” 1185, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Gorgias” 452c; καὶ μὴν καί 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 27.30, etc.: also in answers, to denote approbation or assent, ἀλλ᾽ ἢν ἐφῇς μοι.. λέξαιμ᾽ ἂν ὀρθῶς. Answ. καὶ μ. ἐφίημι] Refs 5th c.BC+] well, I allow it, [[ 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Electra” 556 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; μὴ νῦν διάτριβ᾽, ἀλλ᾽ ἄνυε πράττων.. Answ. καὶ μ. βαδίζω [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Plutus” 413 (variant), compare “Ra.” 895, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Hecuba” 317; so καὶ μ... γε 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 426e, etc. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]