γάρ (γε, ἄρα), causal
conjunction, used alone or with other Particles.
I) introducing the reason or cause of what precedes,
for, τῷ γὰρ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη· κήδετο γ. Δαναῶν [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; but frequently in explanation of that which is implied in the preceding clause, πολλάων πολίων κατέλυσε κάρηνα. τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον [
Refs]
I.b) in simple explanations, especially after a Pronoun or
demonstrative adjective, ἀλλὰ τόδ᾽ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει· Ἕκτωρ γ. ποτε φήσει [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὃ δὲ δεινότατον. ὁ Ζεὺς γ. [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; frequently in introducing proofs or examples, μαρτύριον δέ· Δήλου γ. καθαιρομένης. [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; τεκμήριον δέ· οὔτε γ. Λακεδαιμόνιοι. [
Refs 4th c.BC+]; in full, τεκμήριον δὲ τούτου τόδε· αἱ μὲν γ. [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; παράδειγμα τόδε τοῦ λόγου· ἐκ γ. [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.c) to introduce a detailed description or narration already alluded to, ὅμως δὲ λεκτέα ἃ γιγνώσκω· ἔχει γ. [ἡ χώρα] πεδία κάλλιστα. [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.d) in answers to questions or statements challenging assent or denial,
yes, no. , οὔκουν. ἀνάγκη ἐστ;—ἀνάγκη γ. οὖν, ἔφη,
ay doubtless it is necessary, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἱκανὸς γ, ἔφη, συμβαίνει γ, ἔφη, [
Refs]; οὔκουν δὴ τό γ᾽ εἰκός.—οὐ γ: [
Refs]
I.2) by inversion, preceding the fact explained,
since, as, Ἀτρεΐδη, πολλοὶ γ. τεθνᾶσιν Ἀχαιοί. τῷ σε χρὴ πόλεμον παῦσαι [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; χρόνου δὲ οὐ πολλοῦ διελθόντος (χρῆν γ. Κανδαύλῃ γενέσθαι κακῶς) ἔλεγε πρὸς τὸν Γύγην τοιάδε, Γύγη, οὐ γ. σε δοκέω πείθεσθαι. (ὦτα γ. τυγχάνει κτλ.), ποίει ὅκως. [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἶεν, σὺ γ. τούτων ἐπιστήμων, τί χρὴ ποιεῖ; [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; the principal proposition is sometimes
I.2.b) blended with the causal one, τῇ δὲ κακῶς γ. ἔδεε γενέσθαι εἶπε, i.e. ἡ δέ (κακῶς γ. οἱ ἔδεε γενέσθαι) εἶπε [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.2.c) attached to the hypothet. Particle instead of being joined to the apodosis, οὐδ᾽ εἰ γ. ἦν τὸ πρᾶγμα μὴ θεήλατον, ἀκάθαρτον ὑμᾶς εἰκὸς ἦν οὕτως ἐᾶν, i.e. οὐδὲ γ. εἰ ἦν, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.2.d) repeated, οὐ γ. οὖν σιγήσομαι· ἔτικτε γ. [
Refs]
I.3) in elliptical phrases, where that of which γάρ gives the reason is omitted, and must be supplied,
I.3.a) frequently in Trag. dialogue and [
Refs 5th c.BC+], when
yes or
no may be supplied from the context, καὶ δῆτ᾽ ἐτόλμας τούσδ᾽ ὑπερβαίνειν νόμου;—οὐ γ. τί μοι Ζεὺς ἦν ὁ κηρύξας τάδε [yes],
for it was not Zeus, etc, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; frequently in phrase ἔστι γ. οὕτω [yes],
for so it is, i. e. yes certainly: λέγεταί τι καινό; γένοιτο γ. ἄν τι καινότερον ἢ; [why,] could there be? [
Refs 5th c.BC+] [do so],
yet shall ye never prevail by this means: for ἀλλὰ γ, see below[
Refs]
I.3.b) to confirm or strengthen something said, οἵδ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ εἰσί· τοῦτο γάρ σε δήξεται [I say this],
for it will sting thee, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]: after an Exclamation, ὦ πόποι· ἀνάριθμα γ. φέρω πήματα [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.3.c) in conditional propositions, where the condition is omitted,
else, οὐ γ. ἄν με ἔπεμπον πάλιν (i.e. εἰ μὴ ἐπίστευον) [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; γίνεται γ. ἡ κοινωνία συμμαχία
for in that case, [
Refs 4th c.BC+]
I.4) in abrupt questions,
why, what, τίς γ. σε θεῶν ἐμοὶ ἄγγελον ἧκε;
why who hath sent thee? [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; πατροκτονοῦσα γ. ξυνοικήσεις ἐμο;
what, wilt thou? [
Refs 4th c.BC+];
what, was it? [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; τί γ;
quid enim? i. e. it must be so, [
Refs]; τί γ. δή ποτ; [
Refs 4th c.BC+]; also πῶς γ; πῶς γ. ο;, see at {πῶς}.
I.5) to strengthen a wish, with
optative, κακῶς γ. ἐξόλοιο O that you might perish! [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; compare αἴ, εἰ, εἴθε, πῶς.
II) joined with other Particles:
II.1) ἀλλὰ γ. where γάρ gives the reason of a clause to be supplied between ἀλλά and itself, as ἀλλ᾽ ἐν γὰρ Τρώων πεδίῳ. but [
far otherwise], for, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἥκουσ᾽ αἵδ᾽ ἐπὶ πρᾶγος πικρόν but [
hush], for, [
Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἀλλ᾽ οὐ γ. σ᾽ ἐθέλω. but [
look out] for, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]
II.2) γ. ἄρα
for indeed, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3) γ. δή
for of course,
for you know, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; φάμεν γ. δή
yes certainly we say so, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.4) γ. νυ [
Refs 8th c.BC+]
II.5) γ. οὖν
for indeed, to confirm or explain, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; φησὶ γ. οὖν
yes of course he says so, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; compare τοιγαροῦν.
II.6) γ. που
for I suppose, especially with
negatives, [
Refs]
II.7) γ. ῥα, ={γὰρ ἄρα}, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]
II.8) γ. τε, [
Refs]; also τε γ. [
Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.9) γ. τοι
for surely, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; compare τοιγάρτοι.
B) POSITION: γάρ properly stands after the first word in a clause, but in Pocts it frequently stands third or fourth, when the preceding words are closely connected, as ὁ μὲν γὰρ. [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; χἠ ναῦς γὰρ. [
Refs]; τό τ᾽ εἰκαθεῖν γὰρ. [
Refs]; τὸ μὴ θέμις γὰρ. [
Refs 4th c.BC+]: sometimes for metrical reasons, where there is no such connexion, as third [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; in later Comedy texts fifth [
Refs 4th c.BC+]; once sixth in [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
B.2) inserted before the
demonstrative -ί, as νυνγαρί for νυνὶ γά; compare νυνί.
C) QUANTITY: γάρ is sometimes long in [
Refs 8th c.BC+].—In
Attic dialect always short: [
Refs 5th c.BC+]