[*] 2840.
δή (postpositive except in Hom.
δὴ γάρ and poetic
δὴ τότε) marks something as immediately present and clear to the mind, and gives greater precision, positiveness, and exactness. It sets forth what is obvious, acknowledged, and natural, and often corresponds to
voilà.
δή is used with single words (especially adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and conjunctions) or, as a sentence adverb, with whole clauses.
δή usually stands after the word it emphasizes, though it may be separated from it by one or more other words.
[*] 2841.
δή of what is Obvious and Natural.—Thus,
ἴστε δή you know of course,
δεῖ δή it is manifestly necessary. So ““
οὐχ οἵτως ἔχει; ἔχει δή”
is not this so? Of course it is”
P. A. 27c, ““
νῦν δ᾽ ὁρᾶτε δή”
but now you certainly see”
X. C. 3.2.12,
Παρύσατις μὲν δὴ ἡ μήτηρ ὑπῆρχε τῷ Κύ_ρῳ Parysatis,
his mother, naturally supported Cyrus X. A. 1.1.4.
[*] 2842.
Ironical δή.—Thus, ““
Σωκράτης ὁ σοφὸς δή”
Socrates the wise forsooth”
P. A. 27a; often
ὡς δή, as ““
ὡς δὴ σύ μοι τύραννος Ἁργείων ἔσῃ”
that you forsooth should be the lord and master of the Argives!”
A. Ag. 1633.
[*] 2843.
Intensive δή emphasizes, and makes definite, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and other words. Thus,
ἅπαντες δή absolutely all,
κράτιστοι δή the very best,
μόνος δή quite alone,
ὀλίγοι δή very few; οὕτω δή just so,
ὥσπερ δή exactly as,
πολλάκις δή very often,
δῆλα δή quite plain,
νῦν δή just now, now at once; ἐκεῖνος δή this (
and no other),
δ̀ς δή who indeed. With indefinite pronouns
δή increases the indefiniteness (339 e); as
ὅστις δή whoever at all. With other words:
εἰ δή if indeed,
οὐ δή no indeed,
ἵνα δή that in truth.
a. With imperatives and in questions
δή adds urgency; as
ἄκουε δή pray listen! τί δή;
why,
pray?
[*] 2844.
δή may introduce emphatically the conclusion of a temporal sentence or of a narrative on passing to a new topic; as
ἐνταῦθα δή, τότε δή then indeed,
then and not till then, then it was that. Cp.
X. A. 1.10.1.
[*] 2845.
Temporal δή often, especially with
καί, approximates in meaning to
ἤδη already. Thus, ““
ὁ δὲ θανὼν κεύθει κάτω δὴ γῆς”
but he is dead and already is hidden beneath the earth”
S. O. T. 967,
ὁπότε . . . θηρῴης καὶ δὴ δύο ἡμέρα_ς when you have hunted (
already)
for two days X. C. 2.4.17,
καὶ δὴ λέγω σοι well I will tell thee (without further ado)
S. Ant. 245. So also in
τέλος δή, νῦν δή.—Of succession,
δή means
next.—Poetic
δαὖτε (
δὴ αὖτε) means
now again.
[*] 2846.
Consecutive and Resumptive δή is used to set forth an inference, draw a conclusion, denote a consequence, and mark a transition (
μὲν δὴ . . . δέ). Here
δή is a sentence adverb:
accordingly,
then,
of course, clearly,
you see,
I say. Thus, ““
ἔλεγον ὅτι κατίδοιεν νύκτωρ πολλὰ πυρὰ φαίνοντα. ἐδόκει δὴ τοῖς στρατηγοῖς οὐκ ἀσφαλὲς εἶναι διασκηνοῦν”
they said that they had seen many fires visible in the night; accordingly it seemed to the generals to be unsafe to encamp apart”
X. A. 4.4.10, ““
φεραύλα_ς μὲν δὴ οὕτως εἶπεν: ἀνί_σταντο δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι πολλοί”
Pherauias then spake thus; and many others also rose to speak”
X. C. 2.3.16.
[*] 2847.
καὶ δή: (
a) Introduces a climax, as
καὶ δὴ τὸ μέγιστον and above all,
what is the main thing P. A. 41b. (
b) In replies =
well; as
βλέψον κάτω: καὶ δὴ βλέπω look down! Well,
I am
looking Ar. Av. 175. This is akin to the temporal use. (
c) In assumptions =
suppose (
1771). On
καὶ δὴ καί see
2890.
