Lewis & Short

Parsing inflected forms may not always work as expected. If the following does not give the correct word, try Latin Words or Perseus.

ast, conj., v. at init.

at or ast, conj. [Curtius connects the Sanscr. ati, ultra, nimis, the Gr. ἔτι, the Lat. et, and at in atavus; Vanicek connects with these at, atque, and atqui. Thus the original idea of addition is prominent in ἔτι, et, and atque; and the idea of opposition in at and atqui, which agree with ἀτ-άρ in meaning as well as in form. After the same analogy, the Gr. πλέον, more, has become πλήν, but; and the Lat. magis has passed into the same meaning in the Fr. mais and the Ital. mai. The confusion in MSS. between at, ac, and et, and between atque and atqui, was prob. caused as much by their connection in idea as in form] (it was sometimes, for the sake of euphony, written ad; cf. Quint. 12, 10; 12, 32; 1, 7, 5; Charis. p. 203 P., where, instead of at conjunctionem esse, ad vero praepositionem, the reading should be, ad conjunctionem esse, at vero praepositionem, Fr.; v. the pass. in its connection; cf. also Vel. Long. p. 2230 P.; Cassiod. p. 2287 P.; Mar. Vict. p. 2458 P. The form ast is found in the old laws; it occurs once in Trag. Rel., but never in Com. Rel. nor in Lucil.; at is found in Plautus about 280 times, and ast about 10 times; in Ter. at about 100 times, and ast once; in Hor. at 60 times, ast 3 times; in Verg. at 168 times, ast 16; in Juv. at 17 times, ast 7; Catull., Tibull., and Prop. use only at, and Pers. (Jahn) only ast; in prose, Cic. uses ast in his epistles. It joins to a previous thought a new one, either antithetical or simply different, and especially an objection; while sed denotes a direct opposition; and autem marks a transition, and denotes at once a connection and an opposition).

  1. I. In adding a diff., but not entirely opp. thought, a qualification, restriction, etc., moreover, but, yet; sometimes an emphasized (but never merely copulative) and.
    1. A. In gen.: SEI PARENTEM PVER VERBERIT AST OLE PLORASSIT PVER DIVEIS PARENTOM SACER ESTO, if the son strike his father, and the father complain, let the son, etc., Lex Serv. Tullii ap. Fest. s. v. plorare, p. 230 Müll.; Fragm. XII. Tab. ap. Cic. Leg. 2, 24: Philosophari est mihi necesse, at paucis, but only in a few words, Enn., Trag. Rel. p. 65 Rib.: DIVOS ET EOS QVI CAELESTES, SEMPER HABITI COLVNTO … AST OLLA PROPTER QVAE etc., Cic. Leg. 2, 8, 19; 3, 4, 11: hinc Remus auspicio se devovet atque secundam Solus avem servat. At Romulus pulcer in alto Quaerit Aventino, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 48, 107 (Ann. v. 83 Vahl.); Plaut. Capt. 5, 4, 22: si ego hic peribo, ast ille, ut dixit, non redit, id. ib. 3, 5, 25: paret Amor dictis carae genetricis. At Venus Ascanio placidam per membra quietem Inrigat, Verg. A. 1, 691: (Aeneas) finem dedit ore loquendi. At, Phoebi nondum patiens, immanis in antro Bacchatur vates, id. ib. 6, 77; 11, 709 sq.: quo (odore) totum nati corpus perduxit; at illi Dulcis compositis spiravit crinibus aura, id. G. 4, 416; so id. ib. 4, 460; 4, 513; id. A. 3, 259; 3, 675; 7, 81; 8, 241; 9, 793; Prop. 4, 4, 15; 4, 7, 11; Luc. 3, 664; 4, 36 al.
      Also in prose (chiefly post-Aug.): una (navis) cum Nasidianis profugit: at ex reliquis una praemissa Massiliam, etc., Caes. B. C. 2, 7: ubi facta sunt, in unum omnia miscentur. At pastilli haec ratio est, etc., Cels. 5, 17; 6, 18: quamquam insideret urbem proprius miles, tres urbanae, novem praetoriae cohortes Etruriā ferme Umbriāque delectae aut vetere Latio et coloniis antiquitus Romanis. At apud idonea provinciarum sociae triremes etc., Tac. A. 4, 5; 4, 6: negavit aliā se condicione adlecturum, quam si pateretur ascribi albo, extortum sibi a matre. At illa commota etc., Suet. Tib. 51; id. Calig. 15; 44; id. Vesp. 5; id. Dom. 4; id. Galb. 7 al.
      In the enumeration of particulars: Cum alio cantat, at tamen alii suo dat digito litteras, Naev., Com. Rel. p. 20 Rib.: dant alios aliae (silvae) fetus: dant utile lignum Navigiis pinos … At myrtus validis hastilibus et bona bello Cornus, Verg. G. 2, 447: Nam neque tum stellis acies obtunsa videtur … At nebulae magis etc., id. ib. 1, 401; 3, 87; id. A. 7, 691: Hic altā Sicyone, ast hic Amydone relictā, Hic Andro, etc., Juv. 3, 69.
      The Vulg. often uses at as a mere continuative, where even et or atque might stand: sciscitabur ab iis ubi Christus nasceretur. At illi dixerunt ei: In etc., Matt. 2, 5; 4, 20; 8, 32; 14, 29; 15, 34 et persaep.
      In transition,
    2. B. Esp.,
      1. 1. To a new narration, like the Gr. δέ; so the commencement of the fourth book of the Æneid: At regina gravi jam dudum saucia curā, etc. (the third book closes with the narrative of Æneas); so the beginning of the third book of the Thebaid of Statius: At non Aoniae moderator perfidus aulae, etc.; Verg. A. 4, 504; 5, 35; 5, 545; 5, 700; 5, 779; 6, 679; 7, 5; 8, 370; 8, 608; 9, 503; 10, 689; 11, 597; 12, 134 et saep.
        Also in the postAug. histt. and other prose writers; so after speaking of the Ubii etc., Tac. says: At in Chaucis coeptavere seditionem praesidium agitantes etc., A. 1, 38; so ib. 4, 13; 12, 62; 14, 23 et saep.
      2. 2. To a wonderful, terrible, unexpected, or exciting occurrence or circumstance: clamores simul horrendos ad sidera tollit, etc. … At gemini lapsu delubra ad summa dracones Effugiunt, Verg. A. 2, 225; 3, 225: Lacte madens illic suberat Pan ilicis umbrae, Et facta agresti lignea falce Pales etc. At quā Velabri regio patet etc., Tib. 2, 5, 33; Verg. G. 4, 471: consurgit Turnus in ensem et ferit. Exclamant Troes trepidique Latini, Arrectaeque amborum acies. At perfidus ensis Frangitur in medio, id. A. 12, 731; 10, 763: adusque Supremum tempus, ne se penuria victūs Opprimeret metuebat. At hunc liberta securi divisit medium, Hor. S. 1, 1, 99: Magnus quanto mucrone minatur Noctibus hibernis et sidera terret Orion. At sonipes habitus etc., Stat. S. 1, 1, 46.
      3. 3. To a passionate appeal, etc., in which case the antecedent clause is not expressed, but must be considered as existing in the mind of the speaker; cf. in Gr. ἀλλὰ σύ, σὺ δέ.
        1. a. In passing to an interrogation, exhortation, request: At, scelesta, viden ut ne id quidem me dignum esse existumat? Plaut. As. 1, 2, 23; id. Aul. 1, 1, 8: At qui nummos tristis inuncat? Lucil. 15, 21 Müll.: Me. Sauream non novi. Li. At nosce sane, Plaut. As. 2, 4, 58: Ca. Non adest. Ps. At tu cita, id. Ps. 1, 1, 30: satis habeo, at quaeso hercle etiam vide, id. Merc. 5, 4, 53 (Ritschl, sat habeo. Sed): at unum hoc quaeso … Ut, etc., id. Capt. 3, 5, 89: at tu, qui laetus rides mala nostra caveto Mox tibi, Tib. 1, 2, 87: Hunc ut Peleus vidit, At inferias, juvenum gratissime Crantor, Accipe, ait, Ov. M. 12, 367: at tu, nauta, vagae ne parce malignus arenae Ossibus et capiti inhumato Particulam dare, Hor. C. 1, 28, 23.
          In prose: at vide quid succenseat, Cic. Fam. 7, 24, 2: itaque pulsus ego civitate non sum, quae nulla erat: at vide, quam ista tui latrocinii tela contempserim, id. Part. Or. 4, 1, 28; id. Dom. 44; App. M. 6, p. 179, 18.
        2. b. In expressions of passion, astonishment, indignation, pain, etc.: At ut scelesta sola secum murmurat, Plaut. Aul. 1, 1, 13: Sc. Nunc quidem domi certost: certa res est Nunc nostrum opservare ostium, [ubi] ubist. Pa. At, Sceledre, quaeso, Ut etc., id. Mil. 2, 4, 46: At o deorum quidquid in caelo regit Terras et humanum genus, Quid iste fert tumultus? Hor. Epod. 5, 1: At tibi quanta domus rutila testudine fulgens, etc., Stat. S. 2, 4, 11.
          In prose: horum omnium studium una mater oppugnat: at quae mater? Cic. Clu. 70; id. Verr. 2, 2, 45: at per deos immortales! quid est, quod de hoc dici possit, id. ib. 2, 1, 46: institui senatores, qui omnia indicum responsa perscriberent. At quos viros! id. Sull. 42; id. Deiot. 19, 33: tangit et ira deos: at non impune feremus, Ov. M. 8, 279; 10, 724: at tibi Colchorum, memini, regina vacavi, id. H. 12, 1.
        3. c. In indignant imprecations: At te di omnes cum consilio, Calve, mactāssint malo! Pomp., Com. Rel. p. 245 Rib.: At te Juppiter diique omnes perdant! Plaut. Most. 1, 1, 37: At te di deaeque faxint cum isto odio, Laches, Ter. Hec. 1, 2, 59: At te di perdant, id. Eun. 3, 1, 41: At tibi di dignum factis exitium duint, id. And. 4, 1, 42: At vobis male sit, Cat. 3, 13: At tibi, pro scelere, exclamat, pro talibus ausis Di … persolvant grates dignas et praemia reddant Debita! Verg. A. 2, 535.
          In prose: At vos, ait, devota capita, respiciant di perjuriorum vindices, Just. 14, 4, 10.
        4. d. Rarely of friendly inclination, disposition: At tibi di bene faciant omnes, Plaut. Pers. 4, 3, 18: At tibi di semper, adulescens, quisquis es, faciant bene, id. Men. 5, 7, 32: At tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura, Cat. 8, 19.
        5. e. In entreaty: At vos, o superi, miserescite regis, Verg. A. 8, 572: at tu, pater deūm hominumque, hinc saltem arce hostes, Liv. 1, 12.
  2. II. In adding an entirely opposite thought, but, but indeed, but on the other hand, on the contrary, etc. (the strictly class. signif. of the word).
    1. A. In gen.: at differentiam rerum significat: ut cum dicimus, Scipio est bellator, at M. Cato orator, Paul. ex Fest. p. 11 Müll.: splendet saepe, ast idem nimbis interdum nigret, Att., Trag. Rel. p. 170 Rib.: So. Mentire nunc. Me. At jam faciam, ut verum dicas dicere, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 189: So. Per Jovem juro med etc. Me. At ego per Mercurium juro, tibi etc., id. ib. 1, 1, 280: Atque oppido hercle bene velle illud visus sum, Ast non habere quoi commendarem caprum, id. Merc. 2, 1, 22: fecit idem Themistocles … at idem Pericles non fecit, Cic. Att. 7, 11, 3: non placet M. Antonio consulatus meus, at placuit P. Servilio, id. Phil. 2, 5, 12: majores nostri Tusculanos Aequos … in civitatem etiam acceperunt, at Karthaginem et Numantiam funditus sustulerunt, id. Off. 1, 11, 35: brevis a naturā nobis vita data est; at memoria bene redditae vitae sempiterna, id. Phil. 14, 12, 32; id. Cat. 2, 2, 3; id. Leg. 2, 18: crebras a nobis litteras exspecta, ast plures etiam ipse mittito, id. Att. 1, 16 fin.: Rejectis pilis comminus gladiis pugnatum est. At Germani phalange factā impetus gladiorum exceperunt, Caes. B. G. 1, 52: Postquam Caesar dicendi finem fecit, ceteri verbo alius alii varie adsentiebantur. At M. Porcius Cato hujusce modi orationem habuit, Sall. C. 52, 1: hac iter Elysium nobis, at laeva … ad impia Tartara mittit, Verg. A. 6, 542: T. Ante leves ergo pascentur in aethere cervi … M. At nos hinc alii sitientīs ibimus Afros, id. E. 1, 65: Dam. Malo me Galatea petit, lasciva puella … Men. At mihi sese offert ultro meus ignis Amyntas, id. ib. 3, 66; 7, 35; 7, 55; id. G. 1, 219; 1, 242; 1, 370; 2, 151; 2, 184; 3, 331; 4, 18; 4, 180; id. A. 2, 35; 2, 687; 3, 424; 5, 264; 6, 489: Ast ego nutrici non mando vota, Pers. 2, 39: ast illi tremat etc., id. 6, 74: Ast vocat officium, id. 6, 27: At Jesus audiens ait, Vulg. Matt. 9, 12; 9, 22; 12, 3; 12, 48 et persaep.
        1. a. In order to strengthen a contrast, sometimes (esp. in Plaut. and Ter.) with contra, e contrario, potius, etiam, vero.
          1. (α) With contra: Summis nitere opibus, at ego contra ut dissimilis siem, Lucil. 26, 19 Müll.: Ergo quod magnumst aeque leviusque videtur … At contra gravius etc., Lucr. 1, 366; so id. 1, 570; 1, 1087; 2, 235: L. Opimius ejectus est e patriā: At contra bis Catilina absolutus est, Cic. Pis. 95; id. Verr. 5, 66; id. Sex. Rosc. 131; id. Quinct. 75: At tibi contra Evenit, etc., Hor. S. 1, 3, 27: (Cornutus) taedio curarum mortem in se festinavit: at contra reus nihil infracto animo, etc., Tac. A. 4, 28.
          2. (β) With e contrario: apud nos mercenarii scribae existimantur; at apud illos e contrario nemo ad id officium admittitur, nisi, etc., Nep. Eum. 1, 5: in locis siccis partibus sulcorum imis disponenda sunt semina, ut tamquam in alveolis maneant. At uliginosis e contrario in summo porcae dorso collocanda, etc., Col. 11, 3, 44.
          3. (γ) With potius: at satius fuerat eam viro dare nuptum potius, Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 44: at potius serves nostram, tua munera, vitam, Ov. H. 3, 149.
          4. (δ) With etiam: At etiam, furcifer, Male loqui mi audes? but do you even? etc., Plaut. Capt. 3, 4, 31; id. Trin. 4, 2, 151; id. Rud. 3, 4, 6: At etiam cubat cuculus. Surge, amator, i domum, but he is yet abed, id. As. 5, 2, 73; so id. Capt. 2, 3, 98; id. Mil. 4, 4, 6: Exi foras, sceleste. At etiam restitas, Fugitive! Ter. Eun. 4, 4, 1; 5, 6, 10: Proinde aut exeant, aut quiescant, etc. … at etiam sunt, Quirites, qui dicant, a me in exsilium ejectum esse Catilinam, on the contrary, there are indeed people who say. etc., Cic. Cat. 2, 6, 12; id. Phil. 2, 30, 76; id. Quinct. 56; id. Verr. 5, 77; id. Dom. 70 al.
            (ε) With vero, but certainly: At vero aut honoribus aucti aut etc., Cic. N. D. 3, 36, 87; id. Off. 2, 20, 70; 2, 23, 80; id. Fin. 1, 10, 33; id. Verr. 2, 5, 17 al.
            (ζ) With certe: Numquam ego te, vitā frater amabilior, Aspiciam posthac. At certe semper amabo, Cat. 65, 11; 66, 25.
            (η) So, quidem—at (very rare) = quidem —autem, Cic. Off. 1, 22, 75.
        2. b. Ironically: Th. Quid valeam? Ly. At tu aegrota, si lubet, per me aetatem quidem, Plaut. Curc. 4, 3, 22: at, credo, mea numina tandem Fessa jacent, Verg. A. 7, 297; 7, 363; Ov. H. 1, 44.
    2. B. Very freq. in adding an objection, from one’s own mind or another’s, against an assertion previously made, but, on the contrary, in opposition to this; sometimes, but one may say, it may be objected, and the like: Piscium magnam atque altilium vim interfecisti. At nego, Lucil. 28, 43 Müll.: Quid tandem te impedit? Mosne majorum? At persaepe etiam privati in hac re publicā perniciosos cives morte multārunt. An leges, quae de civium Romanorum supplicio rogatae sunt? At numquam in hac urbe etc., Cic. Cat. 1, 11, 28: Appellandi tempus non erat? At tecum plus annum vixit. In Galliā agi non potuit? At et in provinciā jus dicebatur et etc., id. Quinct. 41: Male judicavit populus. At judicavit. Non debuit. At potuit. Non fero. At multi clarissimi cives tulerunt, id. Planc. 11: sunt, quos signa, quos caelatum argentum delectant. At sumus, inquiunt, civitatis principes, id. Part. Or. 5, 2, 36; id. Fin. 4, 25, 71; id. Verr. 2, 2 fin.: quid porro quaerendum est? Factumne sit? At constat: A quo? At patet, id. Mil. 6, 15; id. Phil. 2, 9: convivium vicinorum cotidie compleo, quod ad multam noctem, quam maxime possumus, vario sermone producimus. At non est voluptatum tanta quasi titillatio in senibus. Credo: sed ne desideratio quidem, id. Sen. 14, 47: multo magnus orator praestat minutis imperatoribus. At prodest plus imperator. Quis negat? id. Brut. 73, 256; id. Div. 2, 29, 62; 2, 31, 67; 2, 32, 69 al.: Maxime Juppiter! At in se Pro quaestu sumptum facit hic, Hor. S. 1, 2, 18 al.
      In this case freq. strengthened,
        1. a. By pol, edepol, hercule: At pol ego neque florem neque flocces volo mihi, Caecil., Com. Rel. p. 67 Rib.: So. Non edepol volo profecto. Me. At pol profecto ingratiis, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 215; so id. As. 2, 2, 34; 4, 2, 14; id. Capt. 3, 4, 64; id. Cas. 2, 3, 15; id. Cist. 4, 2, 70; id. Trin. 2, 4, 73: Ha. Gaudio ero vobis. Ad. At edepol nos voluptati tibi, id. Poen. 5, 4, 61; 3, 1, 68: At hercule aliquot annos populus Romanus maximā parte imperii caruit, Cic. Imp. Pomp. 54; id. Sex. Rosc. 50: at hercle in eā controversiā, quae de Argis est, superior sum, Liv. 34, 31: At, Hercule, reliquis omnibus etc., Plin. 7, 50, 51, § 169: At, hercules, Diodorus et in morbo etc., id. 29, 6, 39, § 142: At hercule Germanicum Druso ortum etc., Tac. A. 1, 3; 1, 17; 1, 26; 3, 54: At, hercules, si conscius fuissem etc., Curt. 6, 10, 20 al.
        2. b. By enim, which introduces a reason for the objection implied in at, but certainly, but surely, but indeed, etc., ἀλλὰ γάρ: At enim tu nimis spisse incedis, Naev., Com. Rel. p. 16 Rib.; Turp. id. p. 93: at enim nimis hic longo sermone utimur; Diem conficimus, Plaut. Trin. 3, 3, 78: At enim istoc nil est magis etc., Ter. Heaut. 4, 3, 21: At enim vereor, inquit Crassus, ne haec etc., Cic. de Or. 3, 49, 188: cum dixisset Sophocles, O puerum pulchrum, Pericle. At enim praetorem, Sophocle, decet non solum manus, sed etiam oculos abstinentes habere, etc., id. Off. 1, 40, 144 Beier; so id. Mur. 35, 74; id. Inv. 2, 17, 52 al.: at enim inter hos ipsos existunt graves controversiae, id. Quinct. 1; so id. Imp. Pomp. 17, 51; 20, 60; id. Phil. 2, 2, 3; id. Ac. 2, 17, 52: At enim cur a me potissimum hoc praesidium petiverunt? id. Div. in Caecil. 4, 15: At enim quis reprehendet, quod in parricidas rei publicae decretum erit? Sall. C. 51, 25 Kritz: At enim quid ita solus ego circum curam ago? Liv. 6, 15; 34, 32: At enim eo foedere, quod etc., id. 21, 18; 34, 31; 39, 37: At enim nova nobis in fratrum filias conjugia; sed etc., Tac. A. 12, 6.
        3. c. By tamen: Jam id peccatum primum magnum, magnum, at humanum tamen, Ter. Ad. 4, 5, 53: Hi secretis sermonibus … conveniunt; nam publice civitas talibus inceptis abhorrebat. At tamen interfuere quidam etc., Tac. H. 4, 55: At certe tamen, inquiunt, quod etc., Cat. 10, 14.
    3. C. With a preced. negative, sometimes no antithesis is appended by at, but it is indicated that if what has been said is not true, yet at least something else is true, but yet; sometimes with tamen, but yet; or certe, but at least, yet at least: Nolo victumas: at minimis me extis placare volo, Plaut. Ps. 1, 3, 95: Si tibi non cordi fuerant conubia nostra, … At tamen in vostras potuisti ducere sedes, Cat. 64, 158 sq.: Non cognoscebantur foris, at domi: non ab alienis, at a suis, Cic. Ac. 2, 11, 56: Liceat haec nobis, si oblivisci non possumus, at tacere, id. Fl. 25, 61: Si genus humanum et mortalia temnitis arma, At sperate deos memores fandi atque nefandi, Verg. A. 1, 543; so id. ib. 4, 615, and 6, 406.
      With certe: Haec erant … quorum cognitio studiosis juvenibus si non magnam utilitatem adferet, at certe, quod magis petimus, bonam voluntatem, Quint. 12, 11, 31; Cels. 2, 15; Suet. Calig. 12, al.
    4. D. The antithesis is sometimes not so much in the clause appended by at, as in the persons or things introduced in it; so,
          1. (α) Esp. freq. in conditional clauses with si, si non, si minus, etiam si, etc.; cf. Herm. ad Viger. 241: Si ego hic peribo, ast ille, ut dixit, non redit; At erit mi hoc factum mortuo memorabile, if I perish here, but he does not return, yet etc., Plaut. Capt. 3, 5, 26; id. Bacch. 2, 3, 131: si ego digna hac contumeliā Sum maxime, at tu indignus qui faceres tamen, Ter. Eun. 5, 2, 25: Si tu oblitus es, at di meminerunt, Cat. 30, 11: si non eo die, at postridie, Cato, R. R. 2, 1: si non paulo, at aliquanto (post petīsses), Cic. Quinct. 40; 97; id. Mil. 93 al.: quanta tempestas invidiae nobis, si minus in praesens, at in posteritatem impendeat, id. Cat. 1, 22; id. Verr. 5, 69; id. Clu. 15: qui non possit, etiam si sine ullā suspitione, at non sine argumento male dicere, id. Cael. 3, 8.
          2. (β) With etsi: ei, etsi nequāquam parem illius ingenio, at pro nostro tamen studio meritam gratiam referamus, Cic. de Or. 3, 4, 14; Tac. Or. 19.
          3. (γ) With quod si: Quod si nihil cum potentiore juris humani relinquitur inopi, at ego ad deos confugiam, Liv. 9, 1; Tac. A. 1, 67.
    5. E. At, like autem and δέ, sometimes serves simply to introduce an explanation: cum Sic mutilus miniteris. At illi foeda cicatrix etc., now an ugly scar etc., Hor. S. 1, 5, 60.
  3. F. And also like δέ in Hom. and Hdt., it sometimes introduces an apodosis,
        1. a. With si: Bellona, si hobie nobis victoriam duis, ast ego templum tibi voveo, if to-day thou bestow victory, then I etc., ἐάν—δέ, Liv. 10, 19.
        2. b. With quoniam: Nunc, quoniam tuum insanabile ingenium est, at tu tuo supplicio doce etc., since your disposition is past cure, at least etc., ἐπεί—δέ, Liv. 1, 28.
          Note:
    1. A. At is sometimes repeated at the beginning of several clauses,
        1. a. In opposition each to the preceding clause: Soph. Tu quidem haut etiam octoginta’s pondo. Paegn. At confidentiā Militia illa militatur multo magis quam pondere. At ego hanc operam perdo, Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 47 sq.: Si ego hic peribo, ast ille, ut dixit, non redit: At erit mi hoc factum mortuo memorabile, id. Capt. 3, 5, 25 sq.; id. As. 5, 2, 6 sqq. (Cic., in Quir. 7 and 10, opposes at to sed, and Tac., in A. 12, 6, sed to at).
        2. b. In opposition to some common clause preceding: At etiam asto? At etiam cesso foribus facere hisce assulas? Plaut. Merc. 1, 2, 20: Quid tum esse existimas judicatum? Certe gratīs judicāsse. At condemnārat; at causam totam non audierat; at in contionibus etc., Cic. Caecin. 113: Sit flagitiorum omnium princeps: at est bonus imperator, at felix, id. Verr. 5, 4; id. Sest. 47; id. Fragm. B. 16, 5 B. and K.: Nefarius Hippias Pisistrati filius arma contra patriam ferens; at Sulla, at Marius, at Cinna recte, imo jure fortasse, id. Att. 9, 10, 3: At non formosa est, at non bene culta puella; At, puto, non votis saepe petita meis? Ov. Am. 3, 7, 1 sq. Merk.: At quam sunt similes, at quam formosus uterque! id. F. 2, 395: rideri possit eo quod Rusticius tonso toga defluit: at est bonus ut melior vir Non alius quisquam; at tibi amicus; at ingenium ingens Inculto latet hoc sub corpore, Hor. S. 1, 3, 30 sqq. (cf. sed— sed, Cat. 64, 141; Juv. 5, 61; 8, 149; and a similar use of ἀλλά in Hellenistic Greek, as ἀλλά—ἀλλά, 2 Cor. 2, 17: ἀλλά—ἀλλά —ἀλλά, 1 Cor. 6, 11).
    2. B. Though regularly occupying the first place in its clause or sentence, it sometimes stands second (cf. atque fin.): Saepius at si me, Lycida formose, revisas, Verg. E. 7, 67; id. G. 3, 331: Tutior at quanto merx est in classe secundā, Hor. S. 1, 2, 47: Mentior at si quid, etc., id. ib. 1, 8, 37: Gramineis ast inde toris discumbitur, Val. Fl. 8, 255: Major at inde etc., Stat. Th. 4, 116.
      See more upon this word in Hand, Turs. I. pp. 417-451; Wagner, Quaest. XXXVII. ad Verg. IV. pp. 581- 585.