μετά

See also: μέτα, μετα-, and μετά-

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

    Cognate with Mycenaean Greek 𐀕𐀲 (me-ta); further derivation is uncertain. Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *meth₂, with the first part from *me (with), in which case cognates include Proto-Germanic *midi and Albanian mjet (middle), me.[1] See also μέχρι (mékhri, until) and μέσος (mésos, middle).

    The genitive is an innovated Greek associative. The dative is from the PIE locative. The accusative is from the pre-PIE directional.

    Pronunciation

     

    Preposition

    μετᾰ́ • (metắ) (governs the genitive, dative, and accusative)

    1. [with genitive]
      1. in the midst of, among, between, with
      2. in common, along with, by aid of
      3. concerning one's dealings with
      4. (rare) at the same time
    2. (only in poetry, usually Epic) [with dative]
      1. between, among
      2. besides, over and above
    3. [with accusative]
      1. as a movement into
        1. in pursuit of
      2. of sequence or succession
        1. (of a place) after, behind
        2. (time) after
        3. (worth, rank) next, after
      3. after, according to
      4. among, between

    Adverb

    μετᾰ́ • (metắ)

    1. among them, with them
    2. afterwards
    3. thereafter

    Derived terms

    Descendants

    • Greek: με (me)
    • Mariupol Greek: мин (min)

    References

    1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010), “μέτα, μετά”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 936-7

    Further reading

    Greek

    Alternative forms

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /meˈta/
    • Hyphenation: με‧τά

    Adverb

    μετά • (metá)

    1. afterwards, later
      Θα το συζητήσουμε μετά.Tha to syzitísoume metá.We will discuss it later.
    2. (with από and accusative): after
      Μετά από πέντε λεπτά, ήρθε το λεωφορείο.Metá apó pénte leptá, írthe to leoforeío.After five minutes the bus came.

    Conjunction

    μετά • (metá)

    1. so, therefore (for consecutive statements)
      Μας έχει ξεγελάσει τόσες φορές. Μετά, πώς να του έχουμε εμπιστοσύνη;
      Mas échei xegelásei tóses forés. Metá, pós na tou échoume empistosýni?
      We have been deceived so often. So how can we have confidence in him?

    Preposition

    μετά • (metá)

    1. after [with accusative]
      Μετά το δείπνο, έπεσα για ύπνο.Metá to deípno, épesa gia ýpno.After dinner I went to sleep.
      Το γράμμα βήτα έρχεται μετά το άλφα.To grámma víta érchetai metá to álfa.The letter beta comes after alpha.
    2. with (accompanying) [with genitive]
      Ήλθε μετά της συζύγου του.Ílthe metá tis syzýgou tou.He came with his wife
    3. with (manner) [with genitive]
      μετά τιμήςmetá timísyours sincerely (literally, “with honour”)