at or
I (rarely) ast, conj, but (introducing a contrast to what precedes).
I I. In a transition, but, but on the other hand, but meanwhile: comminus pugnatum est; at Germani impetūs gladiorum exceperunt, Cs.: alius alii varie ... At Cato, etc., S.: paret Amor dictis ... At Venus, etc., V.: appellatus est Atticus ... At ille ... respondit, N.: At regina, etc., V.—Sometimes at simply emphasizes a word: Bellona, si hodie nobis victoriam duis, ast ego templum tibi voveo, I for my part, L. — Esp., interrupting the thought: metuebat. At hunc liberta divisit, etc., H.: dapibus epulamur opimis. At subitae adsunt Harpyiae, V.: at quem ad modum corrupisti?: at quam caeca avaritia est!: huc armati tendunt; at tu, pater deūm, hinc arce hostes, L.—After a negative clause, at sometimes introduces a qualification (a contradiction would require sed or verum): non placet Antonio; at placuit Servilio, and yet: quoniam ... at tu tuo supplicio doce, etc., yet at least, L.: si te nulla movet ... imago, At ramum agnoscas, V.—Esp., after si, etc., introducing a qualification, but yet, nevertheless, yet: quod si se abstulerunt, at exemplum reliquerunt: si oblivisci non possumus, at tacere: quod si nihil relinquitur ... at ego ad deos confugiam, L.—Introducing a minor premise, but (it is also true that), now: at nemo sapiens est nisi fortis, ergo, etc.—Repeated with emphasis: si non virtute ... at sermone, at humanitate eius delectamini: at est bonus, at tibi amicus, at, etc., H.—Beginning a discourse: At o deorum quicquid ... Quid iste fert tumultus? H.—
II II. Introducing a direct opposition, but, but on the contrary: iste civis Romanos (coluit)? at nullis infestior fuit: brevis vita ... at memoria sempiterna: ut videre piratum non liceret? At contra ... hoc iucundissimum spectaculum, etc.: illi delubra decorabant ... at hi contra, S.: apud nos ... At apud illos e contrario, N.: at etiam sunt qui dicant, but there are even some, etc.: an sine me ille vicit? At ne potuit quidem, but it was not even possible: esto, nihil laudis adeptus est ... at vero, etc., but assuredly.—Introducing an objection: quid tandem te impedit? Mosne maiorum? At persaepe, etc., i. e. surely not, for, etc.: at non est tanta ... credo, sed, etc., but, it will be urged: at valuit odium, fecit iratus ... Quid, si, etc., but, it may be said, etc.—Strengthened by enim or enim vero, but indeed, but surely: at enim non fuit ab Oppianico constitutus, but no, for (it is objected), etc.: At enim vero nemo de plebe consul fuit, but most assuredly, it is objected, L.—In an ironical objection: at vero Pompei voluntatem a me alienabat oratio mea: At, puto, non ultro ... Me petiit? O.