Lexical Definition

‎ἀλλά‎ allá (al-lah') but ^G:CONJ
neuter plural of ‎ἄλλος‎

and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.

• properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)

Abbott-Smith

ἀλλά (ἀλλ’ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle,
stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Ro 3:31);
1. opposing a previous negation, but: οὐ (μὴ) . . . ἀ., Mt 5:15, 17 Mk 5:39, Jo 7:16, al.; rhetorically subordinating but not entirely negativing what precedes, οὐ . . . ἀ., not so much . . . as, Mk 9:37, Mt 10:20, Jo 12:44, al.; with ellipse of the negation, Mt 11:7-9, Ac 19:2, I Co 3:6 6:11 7:7, II Co 7:1, Ga 2:3, al.; in opposition to a foregoing pos. sentence, ἀ. οὐ, Mt 24:6, I Co 10:23; οὐ μόνον . . . ἀ. καί, Jo 5:18, Ro 1:32, al.; elliptically, after a negation, ἀ. ἵνα, Mk 14:49, Jo 1:8 9:3, al.; = εἰ μή (Bl., §77, 13; M, Pr., 241; but cf. WM, §iii, 10), Mt 20:23, Mk 4:22.
2. Without previous negation, to express opposition, interruption, transition, etc., but: Jo 16:20 12:27, Ga 2:14; before commands or requests, Ac 10:20 26:16, Mt 9:18, Mk 9:22, al.; to introduce an accessory idea, II Co 7:11; in the apodosis after a condition or concession with εἰ, ἐάν, εἴπερ, yet, still, at least, Mk 14:29, I Co 9:2, II Co 4:16, Col 2:5, al.; after μέν, Ac 4:17, Ro 14:20, I Co 14:17; giving emphasis to the following clause, ἀλλ’ ἔρχεται ὥρα, yea, etc., Jo 16:2; so with neg., ἀλλ’ οὐδέ, nay, nor yet, Lk 23:15.
3. Joined with other particles (a practice which increases in late writers; Simcox, LNT, 166), ἀ. γε, yet at least, Lk 24:21, I Co 9:2; ἄ ἤ., save only, except, Lk 12:51, II Co 1:13; ἀ. μὲν οὖν, Phl 3:8 (on this usage, v. MM, VGT, s.v.).

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἀλλά,

conjunction, originally neuter plural of ἄλλος, otheruise: used adversatively to limit or oppose words, sentences, or clauses, stronger than δέ:

__I in simple oppositions, but,
__I.1 after negative clauses, οὐ κακός, ἀλλ᾽ ἀγαθός[Refs 8th c.BC+]
__I.1.b after a simple negative, ἦ παραφρονεῖ; οὔκ, ἀλλ᾽ ὕπνος μ᾽ ἔχει[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__I.1.c frequently after οὐ μόνον, μὴ μόνον, with or without καί, οὐ μόνον ἅπαξ, ἀ. πολλάκις[Refs 5th c.BC+], either, not only.. but.., μὴ ὅτι ἰδιώτην τινά, ἀλλὰ τὸν μέγαν βασιλέα[Refs 5th c.BC+]; or, not only not.. but.., οὐχ ὅπως κωλυταὶ.. γενήσεσθε, ἀλλὰ καὶ.. περιόψεσθε[Refs 5th c.BC+]; the negative form is ἀλλ᾽ οὐδέ, μὴ ὅτι ὑπὲρ ἄλλου, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ ὑπὲρ ἐμαυτοῦ δίκην εἴρηκα[Refs 4th c.BC+]
__I.2 in the apodosis of hypothetical sentences, still, at least, εἴπερ γάρ τε.. ἀλλά τε[ἀλλά.. γε, εἰ καὶ σμικρά, ἀ. οὖν ἴση γε ἡ χάρις 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.140">Refs 8th c.BC+]; εἰ μή (i.e. ὁρῶ), ἀλλ᾽ ἀκούω γε, [ἀλλά γε">Refs 5th c.BC+] may be in juxtaposition, εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμί[NT+8th c.BC+]; εἰ καὶ μετέχουσι.. ἀλλ᾽ οὐ.. [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__I.2.b after [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐὰν οὖν ἀ. νῦν γ᾽ ἔτι, i.e.ἐὰν οὖν [μὴἄλλοτε], ἀ. νῦν γε.. if then now at least ye still.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—without an adverb of Time, at least, ἡ δ᾽ ἀ. πρός σε μικρὸν εἰπάτω μόνον[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__I.3 sometimes = ἀλλ᾽ ἤ (which see), except, but, οὔτι μοι αἴτιος ἄλλος, ἀ... τοκῆε no one else, but.., [Refs 8th c.BC+]: compare reverse process in our word but=be out, except:—sometimes with force of ἤ after comparatives, τάφον, οὐκ ἐν ᾧ κεῖνται μᾶλλον, ἀ.ἐν ᾧ ἡ δόξα κτλ. not that in which they are lying, but far more.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__I.4 with negative after an affirmative word or clause, to be rendered simply by not, ἀγαθῶν, ἀ. οὐχὶ κακῶν αἴτιον[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__I.4.b without negative, μικρὸς μὲν ἔην δέμας, ἀ. μαχητής[Refs 8th c.BC+]
__II to oppose whole sentences,but, yet:
__II.1 frequently in transitions, as [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀ. οὐδ᾽ ὥς.. [Refs 8th c.BC+] in answers and objections, nay but.., well but.., frequently with negatives, especially in making and answering objections, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also in affirmative answers, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—repeated in a succession of questions or objections, πότερον ᾔτουν σέ τι..; ἀ. ἀπῄτου; ἀ. περὶ παιδικῶν μαχόμενο; ἀ. μεθύων ἐπαρῴνησ; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. μήν.., answered by ἀ.., [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__II.2 with imperative or subjunctive, to remonstrate, encourage, persuade, etc., frequently in [Refs 8th c.BC+]; answered by a second ἀ., ἀ. περιμένετε. ἀ. περιμενοῦμεν[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.3 to break off a subject abruptly, ἀ. τά γε Ζεὺς οἶδεν[Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀ. ταῦτα μὲν τί δεῖλέγει; [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.4 in resuming an address after parenthesis, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.5 in elliptical phrases, οὐ μὴν ἀ., οὐ μέντοι ἀ... it is not [so], but.., ὁ ἵππος πίπτει καὶ μικροῦ αὐτὸν ἐξετραχήλισεν· οὐ μὴν [ἐξετραχήλισεν] ἀ. ἐπέμεινεν ὁ Κῦρος it did not however [throw him], but.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III when joined with other Particles, each retains proper force, as,
__III.1 ἀλλ᾽ ἄρα, used by [Refs 8th c.BC+]; later, to introduce an objection, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in questions,ἀλλ᾽ ἆρα..; [Refs]
__III.2 ἀλλ᾽ οὖν, concessive, at all events, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; well then, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but then, however, with γε following, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.3 ἀλλὰ γάρ, frequently with words between, but really, certainly, as ἀλλὰ γὰρ Κρέοντα λεύσσω.., παύσω γόους, but this is irregular for ἀλλά, Κρέοντα γὰρ λεύσσω, παύσω γόους, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; for the regular order[Refs 8th c.BC+] only with negatives, ἀλλ᾽ οὐ γάρ[Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀ. γὰρ δή, ἀ. γάρ τοι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.4 ἀ. εἰ.. quid si.. ? [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__III.5 ἀ. ἦ in questions, chiefly of surprise or remonstrance, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀλλ᾽ ἦ, τὸ λεγόμενον, κατόπιν ἑορτῆς ἥκομε; [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.6 ἀ. followed by strengthening Particle, ἀλλ᾽ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται[Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀλλά τοι[Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀ. μέντοι, with or without γε, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. μήν, see at {μή; ἀ. δή}, mostly with words between, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; without intervening words, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__IV = et quidem, [Refs 6th c.AD+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: 1Cor.9.2}