[*] 2821.
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᾽ ἄτι_μον, 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 τί_νυσθον, ὅτις γ᾽ ἐπίορκον ὀμόσσῃ ye who
punish men who swear falsely Γ 279.
[*] 2822.
γέ may be used twice in the same sentence. Thus, ““
ἐπεί γ᾽ ἀρκοῦνθ᾽ ἱκανὰ τοῖς γε σώφροσιν”
since indeed that which suffices their wants is enough for the wise”
E. Phoen. 545. Cp.
Hdt. 1.187,
Ar. Vesp. 1507.
[*] 2823.
γέ stands between article and noun, as
οἵ γ᾽ ἄνθρωποι (after a preposition, as
ἔν γε τῷ φανερῷ); between noun and adjective, or after the adjective, as
ἀνήρ γε σοφός, or
ἀνὴρ σοφός γε; after a possessive pronoun, as
ἐμός γε θυ_μός; after
μέν, δέ, τέ, as
ὅτι δέ γε ἀληθῆ λέγω. When
γέ influences a whole clause it stands as near as possible to the introductory conjunction; as
εἴ γε, ἆρά γε.
[*] 2824.
γέ in contrasts and alternatives; as
σὺ δ᾽ ου᾽ λέγεις γε (
αἰσχρά), ““
δρᾷς δέ με”
thou dost not indeed say, but do shameful things to me”
E. And. 239, ““
ἤτοι κρύφα γε ἢ φανερῶς”
either secretly or openly”
T. 6.34, ““
ἢ σοφοὶ ἢ τί_μιοι ἢ γέροντές γε”
or wise or held in honour aye or old”
P. Hipp. M. 301a (here
γέ indicates a change in an alternative series; cp.
οὔτε . . . οὔτε . . . οὐδέ γε and
καὶ . . . γε 2829).
[*] 2825.
γέ in replies and comments (
yes,
well). Thus,
δοκεῖ παρεικαθεῖν; ὅσον γ᾽, ἄναξ, τάχιστα does it seem best to you
that I should give way? Aye,
my lord,
and with all speed S. Ant. 1102. Here
καὶ . . . γε is common, as
καὶ οὐδέν γε ἀτόπως yes,
and no wonder P. Th. 142b.
[*] 2826.
ὅς γε (rarely
ὅστις γε) has a causal force, much like
qui quidem,
quippe qui. Thus, ““
ἄτοπα λέγεις . . . ὅς γε κελεύεις ἐμὲ νεώτερον ὄντα καθηγεῖσθαι”
you are talking absurdly in bidding me who am the younger take precedence”
X. M. 2.3.15. So with other relatives, as
οἷος, ὅσος, ὥσπερ.
[*] 2827.
γέ sometimes marks an ellipse (
S. Ph. 1409). When the verb of the apodosis is omitted, the protasis often has
γέ (so usually in Aristophanes, e.g. Nub.
267).
[*] 2828. When
γέ is followed by other particles, it belongs with the emphasized word, and the other particles retain their original force; as ““
τούς γε μέντοι ἀγαθούς”
yet the brave at least”
X. A. 1.9.14. So
γε δή, γε μὲν δή, γέ τοι (often used like
γοῦν in giving a reason for a belief),
γέ τοι δή. With the imperative,
γέ is rare except when it is followed by another particle, as
ὅρα_ γε μήν S. O. C. 587.
[*] 2829.
After other Particles.—For example:
δέ γε: here
γέ usually does not emphasize
δέ but either a single word or the whole clause; as
ἡμῖν δέ γε οἶμαι πάντα ποιητέα but we at least, in my opinion,
should adopt every means X. A. 3.1.35.
δὲ . . . γε is often used when two things are compared, in order to show that one is more important than the other.
καὶ . . . γε sometimes means
yes,
and and sometimes
γέ emphasizes the intervening word. Thus,
κοὐδέν γε θαῦμα yes,
and no wonder S. O. T. 1132, ““
καὶ στίβου γε οὐδεὶς κτύπος”
and of footsteps there is no sound”
S. Ph. 29.
καὶ . . . γε often emphasizes one item in a series, and especially the last item, Here
καὶ . . . γέ προς (
καὶ πρός γε)
and besides is common. Cp.
P. G. 450d, 469 b.
μέν γε lends force to a contrast (
P. S. 180d); sometimes it has the force of
that is to say, for example (
T. 6.86).
Frequent combinations are
ἀλλ᾽ οὖν . . . γε, μέντοι . . . γε, μὴν . . . γε, οὐκοῦν . . . γε.
