Topic · from the English index · as printed
οὐ μή, and the compounds of each, are used in emphatic negative predictions and prohibitions.
a. οὐ μή marks strong personal interest on the part of the speaker. In its original use it may have belonged to colloquial speech and as such we find it in comedy; but in tragedy it is often used in stately language. οὐ μή is rare in the orators.
(I) In negative predictions to denote a strong denial.
a. With the (first or second) aorist subjunctive, less often with the present subjunctive (1804). Thus, ἢν νῑκήσωμεν, οὐ μή ποτε ῡ̔μῖν Πελοποννήσιοι ἐσβάλωσιν ἐς τὴν χώρᾱν
if we are victorious, the Peloponnesians will never invade your territory 4.95, οὐδεὶς μηκέτι μείνῃ τῶν πολεμίων
not one of the enemy will stand his ground any longer A. 4.8.13, οὔτι μὴ φύγητε you shall not escape (a threat) Hec. 1039, οὐ μή σοι δύνωνται ἀντέχειν οἱ πολέμιοι
your enemies will not be able to withstand you Hi. 11.15.
b. With the future indicative (first and third person). Thus, οὔ σοι μὴ μεθέψομαί ποτε
never will I follow thee El. 1052, οὐ μὴ δυνήσεται Κῦρος εὑρεῖν Cyrus will not be able to find C. 8.1.5. In indirect discourse, the future optative or infinitive; as ἐθέσπισεν . . . ὡς οὐ μή ποτε πέρσοιεν
he prophesied that they never would destroy Ph. 611, εἶπεν . . . οὐ μή ποτε εὖ πρᾱ́ξειν πόλιν
he declared that the city would never prosper Phoen. 1590.