Hindering

Verbs signifying (or suggesting) to hinder take both the simple infinitive and the articular infinitive. Such verbs may take the strengthening but redundant negative μή (2739); and some, when themselves negatived or appearing in a question expecting a negative answer, admit the addition of the sympathetic οὐ (2742). Hence we have a variety of constructions (described in 2744 ff.)

ὥστε with the infinitive shows the following uses of the negatives.

a. μή in ordinary result clauses including such as express an intended result; as πᾶν ποιοῦσιν ὥστε δίκην μὴ διδόναι μηδ᾽ ἀπαλλάττεσθαι τοῦ μεγίστου κακοῦ they use every effort (so as) to avoid being punished and released from the greatest of evils P. G. 479c.

b. μή sympathetic, after verbs of hindering; as ἀπεχόμενοι ὥστε μὴ ἐμβάλλειν refraining from attacking T. 1.49 (cp. 2744. 1).

N.—After verbs of hindering ὥστε is rarely used for ὥστε μή (cp. 2744. 2); as ὥστε γὰρ τὴν σύντομον πρὸς τοὺς Πελληνέᾱς ἀφικέσθαι ἡ πρὸ τοῦ τείχους φάραγξ εἶργε the ravine in front of the walls prevented them from reaching the short cut to the Pellenians X. H. 7.2.13. Cp. P. Eu. 305d.

c. οὐ, when the ὥστε clause depends on a clause itself subordinate to a verb of saying or thinking (2269).

d. μὴ οὐ after a negatived verb of hindering (cp. 2744. 8); as οὔτε σφέας Εὐρυβιάδης κατέχειν δυνήσεται . . . ὥστε μὴ οὐ διασκεδασθῆναι τὴν στρατιήν neither will Eurybiades be able to prevent the fleet from being scattered Hdt. 8.57. Also when the ὥστε clause depends on a negatived verb (2745); as πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ τοσοῦτον οὐδὲν ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν for I will suffer nothing so much as not to die nobly S. Ant. 97.

e. οὐ μή (cp. 2754 a); as οὕτως ἐπετεθῡ́μηκα ἀκοῦσαι ὥστε . . . οὐ μή σου ἀπολειφθῶ I have conceived such a desire to hear that I shall not fall behind you P. Phae. 227d.