μεν

Lemma: μέν

particle particle
111 views Added Nov 01, 2025

Definition

μέν is an enclitic particle meaning “on the one hand” or “indeed,” used to mark the first member of a contrast with δέ (which introduces the opposing element). It has little lexical content of its own and functions primarily to foreground contrast within a clause.

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Grammatical Analysis

"μεν"

Type: coordinating (in particular, correlative/distributive) particle

Syntactic usage: used to coordinate clauses or phrases; often paired with 'δέ' (μεν ... δέ ...), rarely stands alone

Position: typically postpositive (never first word in its clause)

Semantic note: marks contrast or balance; itself untranslated but sets up correspondence with following δέ, e.g. 'on the one hand ... on the other hand ...'

Related Forms of μέν

1 form discovered

Other inflected forms of this word that have been analyzed:

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