Lexical Definition

‎μενοῦνγε‎ menoûnge (men-oon'-geh) rather ^G:PRT
from ‎μέν‎ and ‎οὖν‎ and ‎γέ‎

nay but, yea doubtless (rather, verily).

• so then at least

Abbott-Smith

μεν-οῦν-γε = μὲν οὖν γε
nay rather: Ro 9:20 10:18, Phl 3:8.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

Included with: μενοῦνγε,

Particle, used partly to express certainty on the part of the speaker or writer; partly, and more commonly, to point out that the word or clause with which it stands is correlative to another word or clause that is to follow, the latter word or clause being introduced by δέ.

__A
__A.I μενοῦνγε used absolutely to express certainty, not followed by correlative δέ, indeed, of a truth, synonymous with μήν, as appears from the Epic dialect and Ionic dialect form ἦ μενοῦνγε in protestations and oaths (where Attic dialect used ἦ μήν), καί μοι ὄμοσσον, ἦ μ. μοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν καὶ χερσὶν ἀρήξειν [μενοῦνγε τοι τάδε πάντα τελείεται 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 14.160, compare 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 24.416; τοῦτον ἐξορκοῖ, ἦ μενοῦνγε οἱ διηκονήσειν 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 4.154, compare 5.93, etc.: with \_negative\_, οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακὸν βασιλευέμεν 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.392, etc.; ὤμοσα, μὴ μὲν.. ἀναφῆναι 4.254, compare 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.118, 179; ἔξαρνος ἦν, μὴ μὲν ἀποκτεῖναι [prev. author] 3.67, compare 99: without \_negative\_, ἀνδρὸς μὲν τόδε σῆμα πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 7.89 ">Refs 8th c.BC+]: also in Trag., ἀκτὴ μὲν ἥδε τῆς περιρρύτου χθονός [μενοῦνγε 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 1.269, 9.632, etc.; οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ.. 2.703, 12.212 ">Refs 8th c.BC+]; γε μενοῦνγε, compare γε [Refs]
__A.I.2 an answering clause with δέ is sometimes implied, τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ σπουδῇ δάμνημ᾽ ἐπέεσσι her can I hardly subdue, [but all others easily], [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὡς μὲν λέγουσι as indeed they say, [but as I believe not], [Refs 5th c.BC+]; καὶ πρῶτον μὲν ἦν αὐτῷ πόλεμος (with no ἔπειτα δέ to follow), [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so νῦν μενοῦνγε σ᾽ ἀφήσω I will let you go this time, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: to give force to assertions made by a person respecting himself, wherein opposition to other persons is implied, ὡς μὲν ἐμῷ θυμῷ δοκεῖ [Refs 8th c.BC+]; δοκεῖν μενοῦνγε μοι ἥξει τήμερον [τὸ πλοῖον] [Refs 5th c.BC+]: hence with the person pronoun, ἐγὼ μενοῦνγε νυν θεοῖσι ἔχω χάριν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐδέν (i.e. θέλω) [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with the demonstrative pronoun, τούτου μὲν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐγὼ σοφώτερός εἰμι [Refs 5th c.BC+] great indeed has been the change, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__A.I.3 μενοῦνγε is used alone in questions, when the answer is assumed, I take it, θέμις μὲν ἡμᾶς χρησμὸν εἰδέναι θεο; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Ἕλλην μενοῦνγε ἐστι καὶ Ἑλληνίζε; [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.II μενοῦνγε followed by δέ in the correlative clause or clauses, on the one hand, on the other hand; commonly in Classical Gr., less frequently in later Gr. (rare in NT
__A.II.1 μενοῦνγε.., δέ.. (or when the correlative clause is negative, μενοῦνγε.., οὐδέ.., [Refs 8th c.BC+], to mark opposition, [Refs 8th c.BC+]—The opposed clauses commonly stand together, but are frequently separated by clauses, parenthetic or explanatory; e.g. μενοῦνγε in [Refs 8th c.BC+]; in [μενοῦνγε is answered by ἐπεὶ δέ">Refs 5th c.BC+] in <[μενοῦνγε is answered by θαυμαστὸν δέ in 1.2.1. ">Refs]
__A.II.2 to connect a series of clauses containing different matter, though with no opposition, [μενοῦνγε.., δεύτερος δέ.., τρίτος δέ.. [prev. work] 5.6.9 ">Refs 8th c.BC+]; τότε μενοῦνγε.., τότε δέ.., at one time.., at another.., [Refs] ὁ μενοῦνγε.., ὁ δέ..; τὸ μενοῦνγε.., τὸ δέ.., etc.
__A.II.3 the principal word is frequently repeated, οἳ περὶ μὲν βουλὴν Δαναῶν, περὶ δ᾽ ἐστὲ μάχεσθαι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; χαλεπαίνει μὲν πρῳρεύς, χαλεπαίνει δὲ κυβερνήτης [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.II.4 one of the correlative clauses is sometimes independent, while the other takes the participle or some other dependent form, ἐβλασφήμει κατ᾽ ἐμοῦ.., μάρτυρα μὲν.. οὐδένα παρασχόμενος.., παρεκελεύετο δέ.. [μενοῦνγεα σ᾽ ἁδεῖα μὲν ἀντία δ᾽ οἴσω 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 123, compare “OC” 522 (bothlyr.); χωρὶς μὲν τοῦ ἐστερῆσθαι.., ἔτι δὲ καὶ.. δόξω ἀμελῆσαι 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Crito” 44 ">Refs 5th c.BC+] b.
__A.II.5 μενοῦνγε and δέ frequently oppose two clauses, whereof one is subordinate to the other in meaning or emphasis, [μενοῦνγε ποτε.. ἀντήρατε,.. νυνὶ δὲ ὀκνεῖτ᾽ ἐξιέναι (for εἰ.. ἀντάραντες νυνὶ ὀκνεῖτε) 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 2.24, compare 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Iphigenia Taurica” 116, 5th c.BC: Lysias Orator 34.11, 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Memorabilia” 2.7.11, etc.">Refs 5th c.BC+]: so in an anacoluthon, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__A.II.6 μενοῦνγε is not always answered by δέ, but frequently by other equivalent Particles, as ἀλλά, μενοῦνγετοι, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.36, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 350, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 21.189, etc.:—by ἀτάρ, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 6.84, 124, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 342, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 1051s q., 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Theaetetus” 172c, etc. (so μενοῦνγε.., αὐτάρ">Refs 8th c.BC+] in Epic dialect, [μενοῦνγε.., εἶτα.. 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Electra” 261 ">Refs 8th c.BC+]; πρῶτον μενοῦνγε.., μετὰ τοῦτο.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μάλιστα μὲν δὴ.., ἔπειτα μενοῦνγετοι.. [Refs 5th c.BC+] —rarely by μήν with negative, οὐδὲν μὴν κωλύει [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.II.6.b when the opposition is emphatic, δέ is sometimes strengthened, as ὅμως δέ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; δ᾽ αὖ.. [Refs 8th c.BC+]; δ᾽ ἔμπης.. [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__A.II.6.c μενοῦνγε is sometimes answered by a copulative Particle, κάρτιστοι μὲν ἔσαν καὶ καρτίστοις ἐμάχοντο[Refs 8th c.BC+], etc.: rarely in Prose, τρία μὲν ἔτη ἀντεῖχον.., καὶ οὐ πρότερον ἐνέδοσαν [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B μενοῦνγε before other Particles:
__B.I where each Particle retains its force,
__B.I.1 μὲν ἄρα, in [μενοῦνγε ῥα, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 2.1, 6.312, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 1.127, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedrus” 258d, “R.” 467d, etc. ">Refs 8th c.BC+]
__B.I.2 μὲν γάρ [Refs 8th c.BC+] there is frequently no second clause, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__B.I.3 μενοῦνγε γε, when a general statement is explained in detail, Κορινθίοις μενοῦνγε γε ἔνσπονδοί ἐστε [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.I.4 μὲν δή [Refs 8th c.BC+]: frequently used to express positive certainty, ἀλλ᾽ οἶσθα μὲν δή [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially as a conclusion, τοῦτο μὲν δὴ.. ὁμολογεῖται [Refs 5th c.BC+]: in closing a statement, τοιαῦτα μὲν δὴ ταῦτα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; οὐ μὲν δή, to deny positively, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀλλ᾽ οὔ τι μὲν δή.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.I.5 μὲν οὖν, see below 11.2.
__B.II where the Particles combine so as to form a new sense,
__B.II.1 μενοῦνγε γε at all events, at any rate (not in Trag.), τοῦτο μενοῦνγε γ᾽ ἤδη σαφές [μενοῦνγε γέ που 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 559b, “Tht.” 147a. ">Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.2 μὲν οὖν is frequently used with a corresponding δέ, so that each Particle retains its force, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: but frequently also absolutely, so then, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially in replies, sometimes in strong affirmation, παντάπασι μὲν οὖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also to substitute a new statement so as to correct a preceding statement, nay rather, κακοδαίμω; Answ. βαρυδαίμων μὲν οὖν! [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μου πρὸς τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποψῶ wipe your nose on my head: Answ. ἐμοῦ μὲν οὖν.. nay on mine, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; compare οὐμενοῦν: in “NT” μενοῦν and μενοῦνγε", to begin a sentence, yea rather, [μενοῦνγε νυν is used for μὲν οὖν, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.18, 4.145, etc. ">NT+5th c.BC+]
__B.II.3 by μενοῦνγε τε, if δέ τε follows, the two clauses are more closely combined than by τε.., τε.., [μενοῦνγε τε is frequently answered by δέ alone, 16.28, +others">Refs 8th c.BC+]; by ἀλλά, αὐτάρ,[Refs 8th c.BC+]; perhaps by ἠδέ, [μενοῦνγε τε">Refs 8th c.BC+] absolutely, when τε loses its force, as after ἦ, τίς, etc., [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__B.II.4 μενοῦνγε τοι in [Refs 8th c.BC+] always occurs in speeches, where τοι can be regarded as the dative of the pronoun: later, μενοῦνγετοι is written as a single word, and is used:
__B.II.4.a with a conjunctive force, yet, nevertheless, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; and sometimes stands for δέ, answering to μενοῦνγε, see above [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__B.II.4.b as an adverb, in strong protestations, οὐ μενοῦνγετοι μὰ Δία[Refs 4th c.BC+]; in eager or positive assent, of course, φαμενοῦνγε τι εἶναι..; Answ. φαμὲν μενοῦνγετοι νὴ Δία [μενοῦνγετοι.. ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; why, are you not.. ? [μενοῦνγετοι, τίνα θεῶ; [prev. author] “Phdr.” 236d ">Refs]; τί μ. πρῶτον ἦν, τί πρῶτον ἦ; nay what was the first? [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σὺ μενοῦνγετοι.. [Refs 2nd c.AD+] only take heed.., [μενοῦνγετἂν εἴη">Refs 5th c.BC+] nay it would be absurd, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; summing up a long temporal clause, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.4.c μενοῦνγετοι γε [μενοῦνγετοιγε">Refs 5th c.BC+] stands first in the sentence, μ. οὐ θέλω [Refs 1st c.AD+]; also γε μενοῦνγετοι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.4.d καὶ μ. καί is used to add a point to be noted, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also καί.. μ., νῦν σοι καιρός ἐστιν ἐπιδείξασθαι τὴν παιδείαν, καὶ φυλάξασθαι μενοῦνγετοι.. and of course to take care.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.4.e ἀλλὰ μενοῦνγετοι well, if it comes to that, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; well, of course, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; compare μενοῦνγετον.
__C for μενοῦνγε after other Particles, see each Particle.
__D Position of μενοῦνγε. Like δέ, it usually stands as the second word in a sentence. But when a sentence begins with words common to its subordinate clauses, μενοῦνγε stands second in the first of these clauses, as ἥδε γὰρ γυνὴ δούλη μενοῦνγε, εἴρηκεν δ᾽ ἐλεύθερον λόγον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι ἐτάξαντο μενοῦνγε.., ἡσύχαζον δέ.. [μενοῦνγε, τότε μενοῦνγε, ἐγὼ μενοῦνγε">Refs 5th c.BC+], even when these do not stand first: sometimes however it precedes them, ὡς μὲν ἐγὼ οἶμαι [μενοῦνγε τινες ἔφασαν 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 5.2.28 ">Refs 5th c.BC+]. It generally stands between the Article and Noun, or the preposition and its Case: but if special stress is laid on the Noun, this is sometimes neglected, as οἱ Τεγεᾶται μὲν ἐπηυλίσαντο, Μαντινῆς δὲ ἀπεχώρησαν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀνὰ τὸ σκοτεινὸν μενοῦνγε.. [Refs 5th c.BC+].
__D.II μενοῦνγε is frequently repeated:
__D.II.1 when, besides the opposition of two main clauses, a subordinate opposition is introduced into the first, ὁ μὲν ἀνὴρ τοιαῦτα μὲν πεποίηκε τοιαῦτα δὲ λέγει, ὑμῶν δέ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__D.II.2 in apodosi with the demonstrative pronoun or adverb, τὸν μὲν καλέουσι θέρος, τοῦτον μὲν προσκυνέουσι, τὸν δὲ χειμῶνα[μενοῦνγε [νυν].. αἶγας θύουσι· ὅσοι δὲ.. νομοῦ τοῦ Μενδησίου εἰσί, οὗτοι δὲ.. ὄϊς θύουσι [prev. work] 42, compare 3.108, +others">Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὅτε μενοῦνγε με οἱ ἄρχοντες ἔταττον.., τότε μὲν ἔμενον.., τοῦ δὲ θεοῦ τάττοντος,.. ἐνταῦθα δέ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__D.II.3 μενοῦνγε used absolutely is frequently followed by a correlative μενοῦνγε, εἰ μὲν οὖν ἡμεῖς μὲν.. ποιοῦμεν [Refs]
__D.III μενοῦνγε is sometimes omitted (especially in Poetry) where it is implied in the following δέ, φεύγων, ὁ δ᾽ ὄπισθε διώκων [Refs 8th c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Luke.11.28 ☩ Rom.9.20}