Lemma 1āutĕm
conjunction
but (postpositive), on the other hand/contrary; while, however; moreover, alsoMorphology
inv.autem · regular
Lewis & Short
autem [ aut ], on the other hand, but, yet, however, nevertheless; sometimes an emphasized and it is never found at the beginning of a clause, but after one or more words; ; like at, it joins to a preceding thought a new one, either entirely antithetical or simply different; it differs from the restricting sed in like manner with at; at , and : [Popilius imperator tenebat provinciam; B. and K. (most in philos. lang.; rare in the histt., being used by Caes. only 59 times, by Sall. 23, and by; and very rare in the poets).
In joining an entirely antithetical thought, on the contrary, but = at quidem, at vero, with the pronouns ego, tu, ille, qui, ; Plaut. Men. 2, 1, 43: i sane cum illo, Phrygia; e principio oriuntur omnia.
In joining a thought that is simply different.
, on the other hand, but, moreover.
, as the : Sed poëtae quid quemque deceat ex personā judicabunt; 1, 43, 152: Quod semper movetur aeternum est — sometimes when one conditional sentence is opposed to another, si — sin autem, in — In adducing an example of a rule: Spald.
Preceded by quidem, as in (perh. most in Cicero's philosophical works, under the influence of Greek style): Et haec quidem hoc modo; and thus in Tac. several times, but only in Ann. and Or.: bene intellegit ceteros quidem iis niti. Marcellum autem et Crispum attulisse — very often in in direct reproduction of: Ego quidem baptizo vos in aquā in paenitentiam.
In any kind of transition. several times repeated: and 25; Wopkens, Lectt. Tull. pp. 53 and 122: Orbis situm dicere adgredior. Dicam autem alias plura et exactius.
In repeating a word from a previous clause, in continuing a train of thought: disces quam diu voles. — in impassioned discourse.
Like sed, vero, igitur, , in resuming a train of thought interrupted by a parenthesis.
In introducing a parenthetical clause itself: quae autem nos ut recta aut recte facta dicamus, si placet (illi autem appellant ) omnes numeros virtutis continent.
In enumerations, for the purpose of adding an important circumstance.
In the syllogism, to introduce the minor proposition (the assumptio or propositio minor; atque, IV. 9., and atqui, II. D.), now, but; but now.
Like the or in adding an emphatic question ( in the comic poets), but, indeed.
: Quo modo autem moveri animus ad appetendum potest, si id, quod videtur, non percipitur?. — in exclamations.
In questions implying rebuke, reproach: Ba. Metuo credere. Ps. Credere autem? eho, : Th. Ego non tangam meam? Ch. Tuam autem, furcifer? yours do you say? yours indeed!.
In a question where a correction is made: Num quis testis Postumum appellavit? testis autem? (witness did I say?) num accusator?: Adimas etiam Hispanias? Et si inde cessero, in Africam transcendes. Transcendes autem dico? Weissenb.
And in questions sed autem are sometimes both used, especially by the comic poets, but indeed, but now, like the — Sed quid ego haec autem nequiquam ingrata revolvo? *. — Once ast autem: ast autem tenui quae candent lumine Phatnae, Cic. Fragm. P. (IV. 2, p. 555 Orell.).
With interjections; Ruhnk.; so.!*? In good prose writers autem is usu. placed after the first word of a clause; but if several words, a and , the verb esse with the predicate, a word with a negative, , together form one idea, then autem stands after the second or third word. But the poets, especially the comic poets, allow themselves greater liberty, and sometimes place this particle, without any necessity in the nature of the clause, in the third, fourth, or fifth place; but autem is never found in good writers at the beginning of a clause or sentence; See more upon this word in Hand, Turs. I. pp. 558-588.