Topic · from the English index · as printed
Wish
unattainable, expressed by indicative with εἴθε (poetic αἴθε) or εἰ γάρ
§1780INDICATIVE WITHOUT ἄνUnattainable Wish.—A wish, referring to the present or past, which cannot be realized, is expressed by a past tense of the indicative with εἴθε or with εἰ γάρ (negative μή). The im…
by ὤφελον with infinitive
§1781INDICATIVE WITHOUT ἄνAn unattainable wish may also be expressed by ὤφελον (ought) with the present or aorist infinitive: ὤφελε Κῦρος ζῆν would that Cyrus were (now) alive (Cyrus ought to be alive) X. A…
by ἐβουλόμην and infinitive
§1782INDICATIVE WITHOUT ἄνἐβουλόμην followed by an infinitive may express an unattainable wish: ἐβουλόμην μὲν οὐκ ἐρίζειν ἐνθάδε I would that I were not contending here (as I am) Ar. Ran. 866. (ἐβουλόμην ἄν…
by ἐβουλόμην ἄν
§1789INDICATIVE WITH ἄνἐβουλόμην ἄν (vellem) I should like or should have liked may express an unattainable wish: ἐβουλόμην ἂν Σίμωνα τὴν αὐτὴν γνώμην ἐμοὶ ἔχειν I should have liked Simon to be (or I wis…
optative of
§§1814–1819OPTATIVE WITHOUT ἄνOptative of Wish.—In independent sentences the optative without ἄν is used to express a wish referring to the future (negative μή): ὦ παῖ, γένοιο πατρὸς εὐτυχέστερος ah, boy, mayes…
expressed by βουλοίμην ἄν
§1827OPTATIVE WITH ἄνβουλοίμην ἄν (velim) is often used as a softened optative of wish: βουλοίμην ἂν τοῦτο οὕτω γενέσθαι I could wish that this might be the result (οὕτω γένοιτο may it result thus) P. …
§1832OPTATIVE WITH ἄνπῶς ἄν, τίς ἄν with the potential optative may be used to express a wish (especially in the tragic poets): πῶς ἂν ὀλοίμᾱν oh, would that I might die E. Med. 97, τίς ἂν ἐν τάχει μόλ…
infinitive in
§2014F. Infinitive in Commands, Wishes, and ExclamationsInfinitive in Wishes.—The infinitive with a subject accusative may be used in the sense of the optative of wish, usually with the same ellipsis as in 2013 c. θεοὶ πολῖται, μή με δο…
summary of forms
§2156SUMMARY OF THE FORMS OF SIMPLE SENTENCESWISHES 1. μή is the negative of a direct expression of a wish, and of all indirect expressions of wish except πῶς ἄν with the optative and a form of βούλομαι with the infinitive. 2…
in clause introduced by ἐπεί
§2244CAUSAL CLAUSESἐπεί may introduce a coördinate command (imperative S. El. 352, potential optative, P. G. 474b), wish (S. O. T. 661), or question (S. O. T. 390). Cp. the use of ὥστε, 2275. Sometim…
μή in
§2704SIMPLE SENTENCES AND INDEPENDENT CLAUSESIn wishes μή is used with the indicative (1780-1781) or the optative (1814, cp. 2156). εἴθε σε μήποτ᾽ εἰδόμᾱν would that I had never seen thee S. O. T. 1218, μήποτ᾽ ὤφελον λιπεῖν τ…
§2715οὐ AND μή WITH THE INFINITIVE NOT IN INDIRECT DISCOURSEμή is used with the infinitive in wishes and prohibitions. Thus, θεοὶ πολῖται, μή με δουλείᾱς τυχεῖν ye gods of my country, may bondage not be my lot A. Sept. 253, οἷς μὴ πελάζειν …
expressed by verb of saying or thinking with μή
§2723οὐ AND μή WITH THE INFINITIVE IN INDIRECT DISCOURSEVerbs of saying and thinking take μή in emphatic declarations and expressions of thought which involve a wish that the utterance may hold good. So with φημί, λέγω, ἡγοῦμαι, νομίζω,…
ἀλλά in
§2784 dἀλλάἀλλά opposing Whole Sentences.—ἀλλά well, well but, nay but, however is often used, especially at the beginning of a speech, in opposition either to something said (or supposed to …
γάρ in
§2807γάρIn wishes: εἰ γὰρ . . . ἐν τούτῳ εἴη would that it depended on that P. Pr. 310d, κακῶς γὰρ ἐξόλοιο oh that you might perish wretchedly E. Cyc. 261. Here γάρ marks the agreement of …
δῆτα in
§2851δαί, δῆθεν, δήπου, δῆταδῆτα assuredly, really, in truth, is rare outside of Attic. It occurs: (a) In answers, often when a word is repeated with assent; as γιγνώσκεθ᾽ ῡ̔μεῖς ἥτις ἔσθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ἡ γυνή; γιγνώσκ…