Obligation

ἔδει, ἐχρῆν.—The imperfect of verbs expressing obligation or duty may refer to present time and imply that the obligation or duty is not fulfilled: σῑγήσᾱς ἡνίκ᾽ ἔδει λέγειν keeping silence when he ought to speak D. 18.189. So with ἐχρῆν it were proper, εἰκὸς ἦν it were fitting (1774). But the imperfect may also express past obligation without denying the action of the infinitive, as ἔδει μένειν he was obliged to remain (and did remain) D. 19.124, ὅπερ ἔδει δεῖξαι quod erat demonstrandum Euclid 1. 5 (1779).