ἀτάρ (ἀτα?ρ, ε 108, Od.
19.273): but yet, but, however; freq.
corresponding to μέν in the previous
clause, Il. 1.166, Il. 6.86, 125; to ἦ
μήν, Il. 9.58; but often
without preceding particle, and sometimes with no greater adversative
force than δέ, e. g. μάψ, ἀτὰρ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον, i. e. οὐδὲ κατὰ κ., Il. 2.214,
Od. 3.138; in apod., like δέ,
Il. 12.144.
ἀτάρ is always the first word in the clause, but a voc. is
not counted, Ἕκτορ, ἀτὰρ σύ μοί ἐσσι
πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ, ‘but
thou, Hector.’ With this arrangement there
is nothing peculiar in the force of the particle; it refers here, as
always, to what precedes (expressed or implied) even when the voc.
introduces the whole passage, Ἕκτορ, ἀτάρ που
ἔφης, ‘doubtless thou didst
think,’ etc., Il.
22.331, cf. Od. 4.236.
(Weakened form of αὐτάρ).