[Vocabulary] Asleep, then, were you?

[sitifan]

Asleep, then, were you?
(quoted from Practical English Usage, section 184.4, by Michael Swan)

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/then
Does the word "then" mean "at that time" in the above sentence?

 

[5jj]

It could do. We can't tell without more context. What point was Swan illustrating?

 

[sitifan]

It could do. We can't tell without more context. What point was Swan illustrating?

184 emphasis
4 structures
If we can move words to an unusual position, this usually gives them more importance. Words are often 'fronted' for this reason.
Asleep, then, were you?

 

[probus]

To me, then does not refer to time in this context. It functions the same as a particle such as eh or huh. But I'm no grammarian and have never read Swan or any grammar book.

 

[tzfujimino]

To me, then does not refer to time in this context.

I agree.
I think it's used in the sense of 3a here:
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/then#then_3

 

[Tdol]

I think it could mean that the speaker does not believe the other person was asleep.