ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rz 3,31); 1. opposing a previous negation, but: οὐ (μὴ) . . . ἀ., Mt 5,15.17 Mk 5,39, J 7,16, al.; rhetorically subordinating but not entirely negativing what precedes, οὐ . . . ἀ., not so much . . . as, Mk 9,37, Mt 10,20, J 12,44, al.; with ellipse of the negation, Mt 11,7-9, Dz 19,2, 1 Kor 3,6; 6,11; 7,7, 2 Kor 7,1, Ga 2,3, al.; in opposition to a foregoing pos. sentence, ἀ. οὐ, Mt 24,6, 1 Kor 10,23; οὐ μόνον . . . ἀ. καί, J 5,18, Rz 1,32, al.; elliptically, after a negation, ἀ. ἵνα, Mk 14,49, J 1,8; 9,3, al.; = εἰ μή (Bl., §77, 13; M, Pr., 241; but cf. WM, §iii, 10), Mt 20,23, Mk 4,22. 2. Without previous negation, to express opposition, interruption, transition, etc., but: J 16,20; 12,27, Ga 2,14; before commands or requests, Dz 10,20; 26,16, Mt 9,18, Mk 9,22, al.; to introduce an accessory idea, 2 Kor 7,11 in the apodosis after a condition or concession with εἰ, ἐάν, εἴπερ, yet, still, at least, Mk 14,29, 1 Kor 9,2, 2 Kor 4,16, Kol 2,5, al.; after μέν, Dz 4,17, Rz 14,20, 1 Kor 14,17; giving emphasis to the following clause, ἀλλ᾽ ἔρχεται ὥρα, yea, etc., J 16,2 so with neg., ἀλλ᾽ οὐδέ, nay, nor yet, Łk 23,15 3. Joined with other particles (a practice which increases in late writers; Simcox, LNT, 166), ἀ. γε, yet at least, Łk 24,21, 1 Kor 9,2; ἄ ἤ., save only, except, Łk 12,51, 2 Kor 1,13; ἀ. μὲν οὖν, Flp 3,8 (on this usage, see MM, VGT, see word). (AS)