I.lo! behold! see! see there! (class.; most freq. in Verg.; in Plaut. and Ter. often em, q. v.).
I. In presenting in a lively (or indignant) manner something important or unexpected (en habet vim indignationis, Donat. ad Ter. Phorm. 2, 3, 1).—With nom. (so usually, v. Krebs, Antibarb. p. 407): ubi rorarii estis? en sunt. Ubi sunt accensi? Ecce, Plaut. Fragm. ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 58 Müll.; cf. Verg. E. 5, 65: “en foederum interpretes,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 21: “en crimen, en causa, cur, etc.,” id. Deiot. 6, 17: “en Varus et legiones,” Tac. A. 1, 65: “en Priamus,” Verg. A. 1, 461 et saep.—With acc. (class.): “en memoriam mortui sodalis,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 37, § 93: “en causam cur, etc.,” id. Phil. 5, 6, 15: “en habitum,” Juv. 2, 72: “en animam et mentem,” id. 6, 531.—With pronouns: “en ego vester Ascanius,” Verg. A. 5 672; so, “en ego,” Hor. 1, 1, 15; Plin. 21, 3, 9, § 12: “en hic,” Cic. Fam. 13, 15; id. Clu. 65, 184; Ov. M. 11, 7; cf.: “consul en, inquit, hic est,” Liv. 22, 6: “em illaec sunt aedes,” Plaut. Trin. prol. 3: “en cui,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 37: “en quod,” id. ib. 2, 5, 47.—With whole sentences: “en mehercule in vobis resident mores pristini,” Plaut. Truc. prol. 7; Liv. 28, 27; Verg. A. 7, 545; 9, 7; Val. Fl. 1, 226; Luc. 6, 51; Curt. 10, 2 et saep.: “en ecce,” Sen. Oedip. 1004; App. M. 8, p. 213, 24; id. ib. 10, p. 243, 6.—Even en en occurs, Sen. Herc. Fur. 523.—
II. In interrogations.
A. To excite the attention of the hearer: “en ibi tu quicquam nasci putas posse, aut coli natum?” Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 5: “en quid agis?” Pers. 3, 5; Val. Max. 7, 6, 3 ext.— More freq.,
B. Manifesting the speaker's wonder, anger, or excitement.
1. With quid, cur, etc.: “en quid ago?” Verg. A. 4, 534; cf.: “en haec promissa fides est,” id. ib. 6, 346; Prud. Apoth. 470: “en quid agam?” why, what shall I do? Pers. 5, 134: “en quo discordia cives Produxit miseros?” Verg. E. 1, 72: “en cur magister ejus possideat campi Leontini duo milia jugerum immunia?” Cic. Phil. 3, 9, 22.—
2. With umquam (or in one word, enumquam): “en umquam aspiciam te?” ever indeed? Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 189; “so very freq.: en umquam,” id. Cist. 1, 1, 88; id. Men. 1, 2, 34; 5, 5, 26; id. Rud. 4, 3, 48; 4, 4, 73; Ter. Phorm. 2, 2, 15; Liv. 4, 3; 8, 30; 9, 10; Verg. E. 1, 68: “en erit umquam ille dies, etc.,” id. ib. 8, 7; Sil. 16, 91 et saep.; cf.: enumquam ecquando, Paul. ex Fest. p. 76, 7 Müll.; and, enumquam, εἴ ποτε, καί ποτε, Gloss. Philox.: en usquam, οὐδαμόθεν, εἴπου, ib.—
III. With imperatives, to incite to action; Engl, Come! en me dato, Plaut. Poen. 1, 1, 31: “hos tibi dant calamos, en accipe, Musae,” Verg. E. 6, 69: “en age segnes Rumpe moras,” id. G. 3, 42; so, “en age dum,” Prop. 1, 1, 21; Sil. 3, 179; Val. Fl. 4, 70; Pers. 5, 134.—Cf. Hand, Turs. II. p. 367-373.
