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ἀλλά , Conj., orig. neut. pl. of ἄλλος,
A.otheruise: used adversatively to limit or oppose words, sentences, or clauses, stronger than δέ:
I. in simple oppositions, but,
b. after Hom., . is used elliptically, esp. with Advbs. of Time, θεοὶ πατρῷοι, συγγένεσθέ γ᾽ . νῦν (sc. εἰ μὴ πρότερον, . νῦν γε) S.El.411, cf. Ant. 552, E.Heracl.565; “. τῷ χρόνῳId.Med.912; ἐὰν οὖν . νῦν γ᾽ ἔτι, i.e.ἐὰν οὖν [μὴἄλλοτε], . νῦν γε . . if then now at least ye still . . , D.3.33, cf. Lys.10.15:—without an Adv. of Time, at least, “ δ᾽ . πρός σε μικρὸν εἰπάτω μόνονAr.Pax660, cf. S.OC1276, E.HF 331.
3. sts.= ἀλλ᾽ (q.v.), except, but, οὔτι μοι αἴτιος ἄλλος, . . . τοκῆε no one else, but . . , Od.8.312; “οὐδέ τις ἄλλη φαίνετο γαιάων, . οὐρανὸς ἠδὲ θάλασσα12.404; “ἔπαισεν οὔτις . ἐγώS.OT1331; “ἡδέα . . οὐκ ἔστιν . τούτοιςArist.EN1176a22, cf. 1152b30: cf. reverse process in our word but=be out, except:—sts. with force of after comparatives, τάφον, οὐκ ἐν κεῖνται μᾶλλον, .ἐν δόξα κτλ. not that in which they are lying, but far more . . , Th.2.43; “οὐχ ὅπλων τὸ πλέον, . δαπάνηςId.1.83.
II. to oppose whole sentences,but, yet:
1. freq. in transitions, as Il.1.135, 140, etc.; . καὶ ὥς . . 1.116; . οὐδ᾽ ὥς . . Od. 1.6:—after Hom. in answers and objections, nay but . . , well but . . , freq. with negs., esp. in making and answering objections, Ar. Ach.402, 407; also in affirmative answers, Pl.Prt.330b, Grg.449a, etc.:—repeated in a succession of questions or objections, πότερον ᾔτουν σέ τι . . ; . ἀπῄτουν; . περὶ παιδικῶν μαχόμενος; . μεθύων ἐπαρῴνησα; X.An.5.8.4, cf. Pl.Thg. 123e, Isoc. 17.47; . μήν . . , answered by . . , Arist.Pol.1287a23:—in vehement answers Pl. often uses νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς . . . , μὰ Δἴ . . , Grg. 481c, Phlb.36a, cf. Alc.1.110b, c:—at beginning of speech, to introduce a general objection, Od.4.472, cf.X.Smp.1, Men.Georg.22.
2. with imper. or subj., to remonstrate, encourage, persuade, etc., freq. in Hom., . ἄγε, ἴθι, Il.1.210, 11.611; “. ἴομεν6.526; “. πίθεσθε1.259; after voc., “ Φίντις, . ζεῦξονPi.O.6.22, cf. Tyrt. 10.15, etc.; answered by a second “., . περιμένετε. . περιμενοῦμενPl.R.327b; “ἀλλ᾽ ἕρπεθ᾽ ὡς τάχισταS.OC1643, cf. Ant.1029, etc.
3. to break off a subject abruptly, “. τά γε Ζεὺς οἶδενOd.15.523; . ταῦτα μὲν τί δεῖλέγειν; S.Ph.11, cf. Tr.467, etc.
4. in resuming an address after parenthesis, Pi.O.2.12, 4.7.
III. when joined with other Particles, each retains proper force, as,
1. ἀλλ᾽ ἄρα, used by Hom. in transitions, Il.6.418, 12.320, etc.; later, to introduce an objection, Pl. Ap.25a; in questions,ἀλλ᾽ ἆρα . . ; Id.R.381b.
3. ἀλλὰ γάρ, freq. with words between, but really, certainly, as ἀλλὰ γὰρ Κρέοντα λεύσσω . . , παύσω γόους, but this is irreg. for ἀλλά, Κρέοντα γὰρ λεύσσω, παύσω γόους, E.Ph.1308, cf. S.Ant.148; for the reg. order cf. S. Ph.81, E.Heracl.480, Med.1067; freq. elliptical, the Verb being understood, Hdt.8.8, A.Pr.941, S.Ant.155: in Hom. only with negs., “ἀλλ᾽ οὐ γάρIl.7.242, Od.14.355, al., cf. S.OT1409; . γὰρ δή, . γάρ τοι, S.Aj.167, Ph.81.
4. . εἰ . . quid si . . ? Il.16.559.
6. . followed by strengthening Particle, “ἀλλ᾽ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖταιIl. 17.514; esp. c. imper., 1.211, al.; “ἀλλά τοιOd. 15.518, A.Pers.795, etc.; . μέντοι, with or without γε, Pl.Smp.214e, Hp.Ma.287d, al.; . μήν, v. μήν; . δή, mostly with words between, S. Aj.1271, OC586, Isoc.4.109, etc.; without intervening words, Pl.Ap.37c, al.; “. δῆταId.Hp.Ma.285c; “. μὲν δὴ καὶ αὐτόςId.Tht.143b, cf. S.El.103.
IV. = et quidem, Olymp. in Mete.1.13, al.
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