Irony

§1801SUBJUNCTIVE WITHOUT ἄνDoubtful Assertion.—The present subjunctive with μή may express a doubtful assertion, with μὴ οὐ a doubtful negation. The idea of apprehension or anxiety (real or assumed) is due t…

§1826OPTATIVE WITH ἄνThe potential optative with ἄν is used to soften the statement of an opinion or fact, or to express irony: ἕτερόν τι τοῦτ᾽ ἂν εἴη this is (would be) another matter D. 20.116, νοσοῖ…

§1918FUTURE INDICATIVEThe future with οὐ interrogative is used in questions in an imperative sense to express urgency, warning, or irony: οὐκ ἔξιμεν . . . οὐκ ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκείνου πλευσόμεθα; shall we not go…

§2354 N.PROTASIS AND APODOSIS COMBINEDεἰ, ἐᾱ́ν, on the chance that.—εἰ or ἐᾱ́ν may set forth the motive for the action or feeling expressed by the apodosis, and with the force of on the chance that, in case that, in th…

§2653QUESTIONS INTRODUCED BY INTERROGATIVE PARTICLESεἶτα and ἔπειτα (more emphatic κᾆτα, κᾱ̓́πειτα) introduce questions expressing surprise, indignation, irony, etc.; and often indicate a contrast between what a person has or has no…

§2781 bἀλλάThe Antecedent Statement is Affirmative.—ἀλλά is sometimes found after an affirmative statement. a. The antecedent clause often has a concessive force, and frequently takes μέν (29…

§2794ἄραἄρα occurs in questions in which the admissibility of one opinion is inferred from the rejection of another. Thus, εἰπέ μοι, ἔφη, ὦ Οεοδότη, ἔστι σοι ἀγρός; οὐκ ἔμοιγ᾽, ἔφη. ἀλλ᾽ ἄ…

§2796ἄραεἰ ἄρα, ἐᾱ̀ν ἄρα if really, if after all, if indeed, are commonly used of that which is improbable or undesirable; εἰ (ἐᾱ̀ν) μὴ ἄρα unless perhaps (nisi forte, nisi vero) is often …

§2821γέγέ (postpositive and enclitic) is an intensive and restrictive particle with the force of at least, at any rate, even, certainly, indeed; but often to be rendered by intonation. γέ…

§2842δήIronical δή.—Thus, Σωκράτης ὁ σοφὸς δή Socrates the wise forsooth P. A. 27a; often ὡς δή, as ὡς δὴ σύ μοι τύραννος Ἁργείων ἔσῃ that you forsooth should be the lord and master of th…

§2849δαί, δῆθεν, δήπου, δῆταδῆθεν truly, forsooth, is commonly used of apparent or pretended truth, and mostly with an ironical tone. Thus, ἐκερτόμησας δῆθεν ὡς παῖδ᾽ ὄντα με thou hast mocked me forsooth as t…

§2850δαί, δῆθεν, δήπου, δῆταδήπου probably, I presume, I should hope, doubtless, you will admit, is stronger than πού perhaps, I suppose. δήπου often has a touch of irony or doubt in stating a case that would…