νή

Forms

νή (nḗ) ^[1]

Etymology

It is probably inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₁enos (“that one”), a demonstrative stem.^[1][2] Pokorny takes νή as an old instrumental case used as an adverb.^[3] Frisk, Pokorny and Wiktionary match it with Latin nē (“truly”), and Wiktionary also with enim (“indeed”).^[4][3][1] Frisk explains the alternation of νή with ναί (naí) and Boeotian and Arcadian νεί (neí) by comparison with ἠ (ē), εἰ (ei) and αἰ (ai), the dialect forms of “if”.^[4] Another view, which Frisk records, connects it with Old Church Slavonic нꙑнѣ (nyně, “now”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Apart from a single fragment of Sophocles, it is a word of comedy and prose; the earliest uses are in Aristophanes and the other Attic comic poets of the 5th century BC.^[5][6]

Semantic evolution

It always affirms by invoking a god in the accusative, most often Zeus: νὴ Δία or νὴ τὸν Δία “yes, by Zeus”, which could open an answer, make an objection after ἀλλά or urge someone on.^[5][6] Oaths by other gods are common in Aristophanes, Plato and Xenophon, and the comic poets also swear by things, as in Aristophanes' “by these fists”.^[6] Plato has the oath “by the dog”.^[6][5] In Menander it can stand without an accusative as a plain “yes”.^[6]

In Koine it is rarer: Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “by my pride in you”, and papyri swear by a person's safety or fortune.^[7]

Timeline

• 5th century BC – Aristophanes uses it in oaths by Zeus and the other gods, and Sophocles once in tragedy.^[5][6][8]
• 4th century BC – Plato, Xenophon and the Attic orators use it in dialogue.^[6][5]
• 4th–3rd century BC – Menander uses it without a god's name, as a plain “yes”.^[6][8]
• 1st century AD – Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 15:31.^[7]

Meanings

Particle

1. (with the accusative of a god) By, used in oaths of strong affirmation: νὴ Δία “yes, by Zeus”.^[5][6]
2. (with other accusatives, in comedy) A mock oath, by an object or animal.^[6]
3. (without accusative) Yes, in dialogue.^[6]

Related words

• Latin nē

Usage notes

The oath νὴ τὼ θεώ “by the two goddesses” (Demeter and Kore) was a woman's oath according to Phrynichus, while a Spartan swears νὴ τὼ σιώ, by the Dioscuri.^[5][6] See also ναί (naí), the form used for “yes” and in Homer.^[6][4]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Köbler, Gerhard, Griechisch-deutsches Wörterbuch, online ed., https://www.koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b Pokorny, Julius (1959), Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, Bern; Munich: Francke
4. ^ a b c d Frisk, Hjalmar (1960–1972), Griechisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3 vols, Heidelberg: Carl Winter
5. ^ a b c d e f g Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
7. ^ a b Bauer, Walter; Danker, Frederick W., et al. (2000), A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., Chicago: University of Chicago Press
8. ^ a b Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge