nempe — Lewis & Short
nempe (often nĕmpĕ in Plaut., e. g. Mil. 906, 922; Trin. 328, 427, etc.; cf.
Ter. Phorm. 2, 1, 77),I conj. [nam and enclitic pe; cf.: prope, quippe, quis-p-iam, etc.].
I Prop., in strengthening or confirming an assertion, as that which cannot be disputed, indeed, certainly, without doubt, to be sure, assuredly (cf.: nimirum, scilicet).
1 In laying down a premise or conclusion: non istam dicit voluptatem. Dicat quamlubet: nempe eam dicit, in quā virtutis nulla pars insit, he certainly does speak of that, etc., Cic. Tusc. 3, 20, 49:
nempe incomposito dixi pede currere versus Lucili,Hor. S. 1, 10, 1:
nempe enim duo genera materiarum apud rhetores tractantur,Tac. Dial. 35; Lucr. 1, 385; Cic. Fl. 37, 91; id. Fin. 4, 15, 41:
si ... necesse est, nempe sequitur ut, etc.,Quint. 3, 8, 23.—
2 (Esp. in colloq. lang.) In summing up or explaining another's meaning, no doubt, certainly, I am sure: nempe illum dicis cum armis aureis, you doubtless mean, etc., Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 16: nempe huic dimidium dicis, dimidium domi? St. Nempe sicut dicis, id. Aul. 2, 4, 14; id. Curc. 1, 1, 41.—
3 In stating a notorious or obvious fact or truth, certainly, of course, beyond question:
nempe ego mille meo protexi pectore puppes, i. e. as everybody knows,Ov. M. 13, 93:
nempe tulit fastus (Medea), ausa rogare prior,Prop. 5, 5, 42; Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 22:
pater est mihi nempe biformis,Ov. M. 2, 663; Cic. Phil. 12, 11, 26.—
II Transf.
1 In questions, to ask a more precise or emphatic statement of something already said (cf. I. 2. supra):
Quid ais? Nempe tu illius servos es?Plaut. Ps. 4, 7, 73:
nempe hic tuus est?really? id. Rud. 4, 4, 13: St. Vivunt, valent. Ch. Nempe uterque? do you mean? id. Trin. 4, 3, 67:
nempe negas ad beate vivendum satis posse virtutem?Cic. Tusc. 5, 5, 12; id. Brut. 3, 14.—
2 In replies, certainly, obviously, of course, Plaut. Mil. 4, 4, 26:
Pompeii tertius consulatus in quibus actis constitit? Nempe in legibus,Cic. Phil. 1, 7, 18:
in quā (urbe) tandem hoc disputant? Nempe in eā, etc.,id. Mil. 3, 7; Quint. 10, 2, 4; 12, 2, 16; Pers. 2, 70.—
3 Ironically, forsooth, namely, to be sure: respice oh mi lepos! Cl. Nempe ita uti tu mihi es, Plaut. Cas. 2, 3, 18:
at avus nobilis. Tuditanus nempe ille, etc.,Cic. Phil. 3, 6, 16: dat mihi filiam suam;
nempe quam alicui servorum ejus nupturam,Curt. 4, 11, 20; Tib. 2, 3, 28.