Customary action

Iterative Indicative (repeated action).—The imperfect and aorist with ἄν are used to express repeated or customary past action (post-Homeric): διηρώτων ἄν I used to ask P. A. 22b, ἂν ἔλεξεν he was wont to say X. C. 7.1.10.

In Herodotus this construction is used with the iterative forms: κλαίεσκε ἄν she kept weeping 3. 119, οἱ δὲ ἂν Πέρσα<*> λάβεσκον τὰ πρόβατα the Persians were wont to seize the cattle 4. 130.

Present of Customary Action.—The present is used to express a customary or repeated action: οὗτος μὲν γὰρ ὕδωρ, ἐγὼ δ᾽ οἶνον πῑ́νω for this man drinks water, whereas I drink wine D. 19.46.

Imperfect of Customary Action.—The imperfect is used to express frequently repeated or customary past actions: ἐπεὶ εἶδον αὐτὸν οἵπερ πρόσθεν προσεκύνουν, καὶ τότε προσεκύνησαν when they caught sight of him, the very men who before this were wont to prostrate themselves before him, prostrated themselves on this occasion also X. A. 1.6.10, (Σωκράτης) τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ ἐπιθῡμοῦντας οὐκ ἐπρᾱ́ττετο χρήματα Socrates was not in the habit of demanding money from those who were passionately attached to him X. M. 1.2.5. See also 2340.

a. The repetition of a simple act in the past is expressed by πολλάκις with the aorist (1930).