же

Forms

же (že)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Slavic *že (“emphatic particle; and, but”).^[1][2] The same word is Russian же (že, “but, and; emphatic particle”), Czech že (“that”) and Polish że (“that”); it also survives in relatives and conjunctions such as Czech jenž (“who”) and Czech když (“when”).^[2][3] Vasmer sees another grade of the vowel in Serbo-Croatian nego (“but, than”) and Russian нежели (néželi, “than”).^[3]

It goes back through Proto-Balto-Slavic *ge to an emphatic particle, Proto-Indo-European *gʰe in Wiktionary's spelling, *gʷʰe in Derksen's.^[1][2] Its cognates are Ancient Greek γε (ge, “at least, indeed”) and Sanskrit घ (gha, “at least”), and with another grade Lithuanian nėsanga (“for”) and Old Prussian anga (“whether”).^[4][3][1] Vasmer also allows a link with the -θε (-the) of Ancient Greek εἴθε (eíthe, “if only”), following Meillet.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

All the canonical manuscripts have the word, chiefly for Ancient Greek δέ (dé), also for οὖν, καί and γάρ.^[5] In the Gospel of John the Jews answer the man born blind: мꙑ же мосеови есмъ оученици “but we are disciples of Moses” (J 9, 28 Mar As).^[5]

Semantic evolution

As a conjunction it adds a new statement to what came before, often with a contrast (“and, but, then”), and it can attach a participle or a dative absolute without being translated;^[5] аще же is “but if”, and after не or ни it strengthens the negation.^[5] As an enclitic particle it follows question words (“then, and”), imperatives (“now, then”) and the first word of a clause it stresses.^[5] Added to pronouns and adverbs it makes relatives such as иже.^[6][7] In the Euchologium Sinaiticum it renders δέ, οὖν, τε and μέν.^[8]

Timeline

• End of the 9th – beginning of the 10th century – the Euchologium Sinaiticum renders δέ, οὖν, τε and μέν with же.^[8]
• Up to the beginning of the 15th century – a Serbian translation kept at the Rila monastery uses же for δέ, μέν and γάρ.^[8]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. and, then; adding a statement to what precedes; for δέ, οὖν, καί.^[5][1]
2. but, however; for δέ.^[5][1]
3. же и: and also; for τε καί.^[5]
4. аще же: but if; for εἰ δέ, ἐὰν δέ.^[5]

Particle

1. After question words: then, and.^[5]
2. After an imperative: now, then; for δή.^[5]
3. (emphatic) Stresses the word before it; after не or ни it strengthens the negation.^[5][2]

Word family

• иже
• неже

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 554
3. ^ a b c d Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 2, 39
4. ^ Sadnik, Linda; Aitzetmüller, Rudolf (1955), Handwörterbuch zu den altkirchenslavischen Texten, Heidelberg: Winter / 's-Gravenhage: Mouton, p. 338
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kurz, Josef; Hauptová, Zoe (eds.) (1958–1997), Slovník jazyka staroslověnského / Lexicon linguae palaeoslovenicae, 4 vols. + supplements, Praha: Academia; digital ed. gorazd.org
6. ^ Havlová, Eva; Erhart, Adolf; Janyšková, Ilona (eds.) (1989–2022), Etymologický slovník jazyka staroslověnského, 21 fascicles, Praha: Academia / Brno: Tribun EU, p. 235
7. ^ Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 208
8. ^ a b c SlaVaComp Metaglossar Griechisch–Kirchenslavisch, Universität Freiburg, slavistik-portal.de