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): [me̞ˈta]
  • 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”)