FromProto-Indo-European*gó ~ *ge(emphatic, delimiting particle), which is sometimes unified with, but is formally impossible to derive from, the similar particle*gʰo ~ *gʰe. Possible cognates includeProto-Germanic*-k(pronominal accusative marker, see*mek,*þek,*sek) and Tocharian B-k(emphatic suffix).[1][2]
γε• (ge) (discourse particle)
- often translatable with italics or stress
- (limiting)at least,at any rate,only
- (intensifying)in fact
As an enclitic,γε follows the single word that it affects, or if it affects a phrase or clause, follows the first word in the phrase or clause. Hence, when it modifies a substantive that has the article, it usually follows the article. In the following examples, phrases are underlined:
386BCE – 367BCE,
Plato,
Meno80e:
- Σωκράτης […] οὔτε γὰρ ἂνὅγε οἶδεν ζητοῖ—οἶδεν γάρ, καὶ οὐδὲν δεῖτῷγε τοιούτῳ ζητήσεως […]
- Sōkrátēs […] oúte gàr ànhóge oîden zētoî—oîden gár, kaì oudèn deîtōîge toioútōi zētḗseōs[…]
- Socrates: […] For he can neither inquire intowhat heknows — since he knows it, andin a case likethat there is no need for inquiry […]
Becauseδέ(dé) must always follow the first word in a clause,γε always followsδέ when it modifies the first phrase in the clause.
366BCE – 348BCE,
Plato,
Theaetetus164a:
- Σωκράτης ὁ δέγε ὁρῶν καὶ ἐπιστήμων γεγονὼς οὗ ἑώρα, ἐὰν μύσῃ, μέμνηται μέν, οὐχ ὁρᾷ δὲ αὐτό.
- Sōkrátēs ho dége horôn kaì epistḗmōn gegonṑs hoû heṓra, eàn músēi, mémnētai mén, oukh horāî dè autó.
- Socrates: But the one whosees and has become knowledgeable about what he saw, if he closes his eyes, he still remembers it, though he no longer sees it.
It may also attach to other particles, with a mild intensifying effect.
- ^Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), “γε”, inEtymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series;10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill,→ISBN, page263
- ^Dunkel, George E. (2014),Lexikon der indogermanischen Partikeln und Pronominalstämme [Lexicon of Indo-European Particles and Pronominal Stems] (in German), volume 2: Lexikon, Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter,→ISBN, pages279-83
- “γε”, inLiddell & Scott (1940),A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- “γε”, inLiddell & Scott (1889),An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
- γε inBailly, Anatole (1935),Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
- Bauer, Walter et al. (2001),A Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Third edition, Chicago: University of Chicago Press
- γε inCunliffe, Richard J. (1924),A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published1963
- γε in theDiccionario Griego–Español en línea (2006–2025)
- “γε”, inSlater, William J. (1969),Lexicon to Pindar, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter
- G1065 inStrong, James (1979),Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible
- Woodhouse, S. C. (1910),English–Greek Dictionary: A Vocabulary of the Attic Language[1], London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Limited.
- all idem, page 22.
- anyhow idem, page 33.
- assuredly idem, page 48.
- certainly idem, page 122.
- event idem, page 285.
- however idem, page 408.
- indeed idem, page 431.
- least idem, page 483.
- rate idem, page 673.
- yes idem, page 996.
