ἀτάρ

Forms

ᾰ̓τᾰ́ρ (atár) ^[1] Epic αὐτάρ (autár) beside it; an inscription has ⟨ἀϝυτάρ⟩.^[2]

Etymology

Beekes and Frisk explain it as a combination of two particles.^[3][4] Its first part is inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂et (“but”), the same word as Latin at (“but”); its second is ἄρ (ár), the short form of ἄρα (ára).^[3][4][5] Wiktionary, following de Vaan, also compares Tocharian B ate (“away”).^[1] The epic by-form αὐτάρ (autár) is closely related;^[3][2] the CGL connects it with αὖτε (aûte, “again”) and the same particle.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from the first book of the Iliad on, as a conjunction meaning “but, however”, often introducing an objection or a correction.^[2][6][7]

Semantic evolution

In Homer it marks a strong contrast, often answering μέν, but it can also simply continue a narrative, “and, then”; in the Iliad it can introduce the main clause after a conditional.^[2][6] After a vocative it opens what is said to the person addressed.^[2]

In tragedy and in Plato it marks a rapid passage to another thought, and Euripides and Xenophon use it in questions that raise an objection.^[2][6] It remained much more common in poetry, above all epic, than in prose, though Plato, Xenophon and the comic poet Cratinus have it.^[2]

Timeline

• Homer – The Iliad and the Odyssey use it, with epic αὐτάρ (autár), for “but” and “and then”.^[2][6][7]
• Before the 6th century BC – Hesiod uses the epic form.^[7]
• 5th century BC – The tragedians use it to pass quickly to a new thought.^[2][6]
• 5th–4th century BC – Plato and Xenophon use it in prose.^[2][6]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. But, however, nevertheless, marking a strong contrast; also answering μέν.^[6][2]
2. Raising an objection in a question.^[6][2]
3. Without contrast: and, then; but now, next.^[6][2]
4. In the main clause after a conditional: then.^[6]

Related words

• αὐτάρ (autár)
• ἄρα (ára)
• αὖτε (aûte)
• Latin at

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; Jones, Henry Stuart (1940), A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), Etymological Dictionary of Greek, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 10, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b Frisk, Hjalmar (1960–1972), Griechisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3 vols, Heidelberg: Carl Winter
5. ^ Rodríguez Adrados, Francisco, et al., eds. (1980–), Diccionario Griego-Español, Madrid: CSIC, http://dge.cchs.csic.es/xdge
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Diggle, James, et al., eds. (2021), The Cambridge Greek Lexicon, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
7. ^ a b c Keersmaekers, Alek (2021–2025), GLAUx: The Greek Language Automated corpus, https://github.com/alekkeersmaekers/glaux