δέ,
but: adversative and copulative Particle,
I) answering to μέν (which see), τὴν νῦν μὲν Βοιωτίαν, πρότερον δὲ Καδμηίδα γῆν καλουμένην [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II) without preceding μέν,
II.1) adversative, expressing distinct opposition, αἰεί τοι τὰ κάκ᾽ ἐστὶ φίλα. μαντεύεσθαι, ἐσθλὸν δ᾽ οὔτε τί πω εἶπας[
Refs 5th c.BC+]; so in Prose, οὐκ ἐπὶ κακῷ, ἐλευθερώσει δέ. [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2) copulative,
II.2.a) in explanatory clauses, ξυνέβησαν. τὰ μακρὰ τείχη ἑλεῖν (ἦν δὲ σταδίων μάλιστα ὀκτώ) [
Refs 8th c.BC+]: when a
substantive is followed by words in apposition, Ἀρισταγόρῃ τῷ Μιλησίῳ, δούλῳ δὲ ἡμετέρῳ [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; so in answers, διπλᾶ λέγειν. —Answ. διπλᾶδ᾽ ὁρᾶν [
Refs]
II.2.b) in enumerations or transitions, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; with repetition of a word in different relations, ὣς Ἀχιλεὺς θάμβησεν, θάμβησαν δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; in rhetorical outbursts, οὐκ ἂν εὐθέως εἴποιεν· τὸν δὲ βάσκανον, τὸν δὲ ὄλεθρον, τοῦτον δὲ ὑβρίζειν,—ἀναπνεῖν δέ. [
Refs 4th c.BC+]; in a climax, πᾶν γύναιον καὶ παιδίον καὶ θηρίον δέ
nay even beast, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; in the combination καὶ δέ [
Refs 8th c.BC+]
II.2.c) answering to τε (which see), ἃ τῶν τε ἀποβαινόντων ἕνεκα ἄξια κεκτῆσθαι, πολὺ δὲ μᾶλλον αὐτὰ αὑτῶν [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3) implying causal connexion, less direct than γάρ, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]
II.4) in questions, with implied opposition, ἑόρακας δ᾽, ἔφη, τὴν γυναῖκ; [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.4.b) τί δ; what
then? to mark a transition in dialogue; see at {τίς}.
II) in apodosi:
II.1) after hypothetical clauses, εἰ δέ κε μὴ δώωσιν, ἐγὼ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕλωμαι if they will not give it,
then I, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]
II.1.b) after temporal or relative clauses, with ἐπεί, ἕως, etc, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; with
demonstrative Pronouns or
adverbs answering to a preceding relative, οἵηπερ φύλλων γενεή, τοίη δὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν [
Refs 8th c.BC+]: sometimes after a participle, οἰόμενοι. τιμῆς τεύξεσθαι, ἀντὶ δὲ τούτων οὐδ᾽ ὅμοιοι. ἐσόμεθα [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2) to resume after an interruption or parenthesis, χρόνου δὲ ἐπιγινομένου καὶ κατεστραμμένων σχεδὸν πάντων,—κατεστραμμένων δὲ τούτων. [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; with an anacoluthon, ἡ δὲ ψυχὴ ἄρα,—οἷ ἂν θεὸς θέλῃ. τῇ ἐμῇ ψυχῇ ἰτέον, αὕτη δὲ δή. [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3) to begin a story, ἦμος δ᾽ ἠέλιος.
well, when the sun, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]
II.4) to introduce a proof, τεκμήριον δέ, σημεῖον δέ, (see entry).
B) POSITION of δέ. It usually stands second: hence frequently between
Article and
substantive or
preposition and case; but also after
substantive, or words forming a connected notion, hence it may stand third, γυναῖκα πιστὴν δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις εὕροι [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; so in Prose after a
negative, οὐχ ὑπ᾽ ἐραστοῦ δέ, to avoid confusion between οὐ δέ and οὐδέ, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]