εἰ: Difference between revisions

|Definition=Att.-Ion. and Arc. (for [[εἰκ]], v. infr. ''ΙΙ'' ad init.), = Dor. and Aeol. [[αἰ]], [[αἰκ]] ([[quod vide|q.v.]]), Cypr.<br><span class="bld">A</span> ἤ ''Inscr.Cypr.''135.10 H., both [[εἰ]] and [[αἰ]] in Ep.:—Particle used interjectionally with imper. and to express a wish, but usually either in conditions, [[if]], or in indirect questions, [[whether]]. In the former use its regular negative is [[μή]]; in the latter, [[οὐ]].<br><span class="bld">A</span> INTERJECTIONALLY, in Hom., [[come now]]! c. imper., εἰ δὲ… ἄκουσον Il.9.262; <b class="b3">εἰ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ φευγόντων</b> ib.46; most freq. with [[ἄγε]] ([[quod vide|q.v.]]), 1.302, al.<br><span class="bld">2</span> in wishes, c. opt., ἀλλ' εἴ τις… καλέσειεν 10.111, cf. 24.74; so later, εἴ μοι ξυνείη μοῖρα [[Sophocles|S.]]''[[Oedipus Tyrannus|OT]]''863 (lyr.); εἴ μοι γένοιτο φθόγγος ἐν βραχίοσιν E.''Hec.''836: more freq. followed by γάρ, αἲ γὰρ δὴ οὕτως εἴη Il.4.189, al.; εἰ γὰρ γενοίμην ἀντὶ σοῦ νεκρός E.''Hipp.'' 1410; εἰ γὰρ γένοιτο [[Xenophon|X.]]''[[Cyropaedia|Cyr.]]''6.1.38; εἰ γὰρ ἐν τούτῳ εἴη Pl.''Prt.''310d; of unattained wishes, in Hom. only c. opt., εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼν… Διὸς πάϊς αἰγιόχοιο εἴην Il.13.825; Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἰ γὰρ ἐμὸς πόσις εἴη Alcm.29; later with past tenses of ind., εἰ γάρ μ' ὑπὸ γῆν… ἧκεν A.''Pr.''152 (anap.); <b class="b3">εἰ γὰρ τοσαύτην δύναμιν εἶχον ὥστε</b>… E.''Alc.''1072: twice in Od. c. inf. (cf. the use of inf. in commands), αἰ γὰρ τοῖος ἐὼν… ἐμὸς γαμβρὸς καλέεσθαι 7.311, cf. 24.376.<br><span class="bld">b</span> [[εἴθε]], Ep. [[αἴθε]], is freq. used in wishes in the above constructions, εἴθε οἱ αὐτῷ Ζεὺς ἀγαθὸν τελέσειεν 2.33; εἴθ' ὣς ἡβώοιμι Il.7.157; ἰὼ γᾶ, εἴθ' ἔμ' ἐδέξω A.''Ag.''1537 (lyr.); εἴθε σοι, ὦ Περίκλεις, τότε συνεγενόμην [[Xenophon|X.]]''[[Memorabilia|Mem.]]''1.2.46: later c. inf., γαίης χθαμαλωτέρη εἴθε… κεῖσθαι ''AP''9.284 (Crin.).<br><span class="bld">c</span> <b class="b3">εἰ γάρ, εἴθε</b> are also used with [[ὤφελον]] (Ep. [[ὤφελλον]]), of past unattained wishes, αἴθ' ὤφελλες στρατοῦ ἄλλου σημαίνειν Il.14.84; <b class="b3">εἰ γὰρ ὤφελον [κατιδεῖν]</b> Pl.''R.''432c.<br><span class="bld">d</span> followed by a clause expressing a consequence of the fulfilment of the wish, <b class="b3">αἰ γὰρ τοῦτο… ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη· τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης</b>… Od. 15.536, cf. 17.496, al.; sometimes hard to distinguish from [[εἰ]] in conditions (which may be derived from this use), εἴ μοί τι πίθοιο, τό κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη Il.7.28.<br><span class="bld">B</span> IN CONDITIONS, [[if]]:<br><span class="bld">I</span> with INDIC.,<br><span class="bld">1</span> with all tenses (for fut., v. infr. 2), to state a condition, with nothing implied as to its fulfilment, <b class="b3">εἰ δ' οὕτω τοῦτ' ἐστίν, ἐμοὶ μέλλει φίλον εἶναι</b> but [[if]] this is so, it will be... Il.1.564: any form of the Verb may stand in apodosi, εἰ θεοί τι δρῶσιν αἰσχρόν, οὐκ εἰσὶν θεοί E.''Fr.''292.7; εἰ δοκεῖ, πλέωμεν S.''Ph.'' 526; εἰ Φαῖδρον ἀγνοῶ, καὶ ἐμαυτοῦ ἐπιλέλησμαι [[Plato|Pl.]]''[[Phaedrus|Phdr.]]''228a; κάκιστ' ἀπολοίμην, Ξανθίαν εἰ μὴ φιλῶ Ar.''Ra.''579, cf. Od.17.475; εἰ θεοῦ ἦν, οὐκ ἦν αἰσχροκερδής· εἰ δ' αἰσχροκερδής, οὐκ ἦν θεοῦ Pl.''R.''408c; εἰ ταῦτα λέγων διαφθείρω τοὺς νέους, ταῦτ' ἂν εἴη βλαβερά Id.''Ap.''30b, cf. 25b; <b class="b3">εἰ οὗτοι ὀρθῶς ἀπέστησαν, ὑμεῖς ἂν οὐ χρεὼν ἄρχοιτε</b> [[if]] these were right in their revolt, (it would follow that) you rule when you have no right, Th.3.40.<br><span class="bld">b</span> to express a general condition, [[if ever]], [[whenever]], sometimes with pres., εἴ τις δύο ἢ καὶ πλείους τις ἡμέρας λογίζεται, μάταιός ἐστιν S.''Tr.''943: with impf., εἴ τίς τι ἠρώτα ἀπεκρίνοντο Th.7.10: rarely with aor., D.S.31.26.1, S.E.''P.''1.84; cf. 111.2.<br><span class="bld">2</span> with fut. (much less freq. than [[ἐάν]] c. subj.), either to express a future supposition emphatically, εἰ φθάσομεν τοὺς πολεμίους κατακαίνοντες οὐδεὶς ἡμῶν ἀποθανεῖται [[Xenophon|X.]]''[[Cyropaedia|Cyr.]]''7.1.19; εἰ μὴ βοηθήσετε οὐ περιέσται τἀκεῖ Th.6.91; <b class="b3">εἰ αὕτη ἡ πόλις ληφθήσεται, ἔχεται ἡ πᾶσα Σικελία</b> ibid.; in threats or warnings, εἰ μὴ καθέξεις γλῶσσαν ἔσται σοι κακά E.''Fr.''5; εἰ τιμωρήσεις Πατρόκλῳ, αὐτὸς ἀποθανῇ Pl.''Ap.''28c, cf. D.28.21: or,<br><span class="bld">b</span> to express a present intention or expectation, <b class="b3">αἶρε πλῆκτρον εἰ μαχεῖ</b> [[if]] you mean to fight, [[Aristophanes|Ar.]]''[[The Birds|Av.]]''759; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἀνήρ… εἰ ταῦτ' ἀνατεὶ τῇδε κείσεται κράτη S.''Ant.''485, cf. Il.1.61, E.''Hec.''863.<br><span class="bld">3</span> with historical tenses, implying that the condition is or was unfulfilled.<br><span class="bld">a</span> with impf., referring to present time or to continued or repeated action in past time (in Hom. always the latter, Il.24.715, al.): <b class="b3">ταῦτα οὐκ ἂν ἐδύναντο ποιεῖν, εἰ μὴ διαίτῃ μετρίᾳ ἐχρῶντο</b> they would not be able to do this (as they do), [[if]] they did not live an abstemious life, [[Xenophon|X.]]''[[Cyropaedia|Cyr.]]''1.2.16, cf. Pl.''R.''489b; <b class="b3">οὐκ ἂν νήσων ἐκράτει, εἰ μή τι καὶ ναυτικὸν εἶχεν</b> he (Agamemnon) would not have been master of islands, [[if]] he had not had also some naval force, Th.1.9; αἰ δ' ἦχες ἔσλων ἴμερον ἢ κάλων… αἴδως κεν… ἦχεν Sapph.28; <b class="b3">εἰ ἦσαν ἄνδρες ἀγαθοὶ… οὐκ ἄν ποτε ταῦτα ἔπασχον</b> [[if]] they had been good men, they would never have suffered as they did, Pl.''Grg.''516e, cf. [[Xenophon|X.]]''[[Memorabilia|Mem.]]''1.1.5; <b class="b3">εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ τάδε ᾔδἐ… οὐκ ἂν ὑπεξέφυγε</b> [[if]] I had known this... Il.8.366.<br><span class="bld">b</span> with aor. referring to past time, εἰ μὴ ἔφυσε θεὸς μέλι… ἔφασκον γλύσσονα σῦκα πέλεσθαι Xenoph.38; <b class="b3">εἰ μὴ ὑμεῖς ἤλθετε, ἐπορευόμεθα ἂν ἐπὶ βασιλέα</b> had you not come, we should be on our way... X.''An.''2.1.4; καὶ ἴσως ἂν ἀπέθανον, εἰ μὴ ἡ ἀρχὴ διὰ ταχέων κατελύθη Pl.''Ap.''32d, cf. Il.5.680, Od.4.364, D.4.5, 27.63: with plpf. in apodosi, εἰ τριάκοντα μόναι μετέπεσον τῶν ψήφων, ἀπεπεφεύγη ἄν Pl. ''Ap.''36a.<br><span class="bld">c</span> rarely with plpf. referring to action finished in past or present time, <b class="b3">λοιπὸν δ' ἂν ἦν ἡμῖν ἔτι περὶ τῆς πόλεως διαλεχθῆναι, εἰ μὴ προτέρα τῶν ἄλλων τὴν εἰρήνην ἐπεποίητο</b> [[if]] she had not (as she has done) made peace before the rest, Isoc.5.56, cf. Pl.''Ti.''21c.<br><span class="bld">II</span> with SUBJ., [[εἰ]] is regularly joined with [[ἄν]] (Ep. κε<b class="b3">, κεν</b>), cf. [[ἐάν]]: Arc. [[εἰκαν]] in Tegean Inscrr. of iv B. C. (''IG''5(2).3.16, 31, 6.2, ''SIG''306.34) should be understood as <b class="b3">εἰκ ἄν</b> ([[εἰ]]: [[εἰκ]] = [[οὐ]]: [[οὐκ]]), since <b class="b3">εἰ δ' ἄν</b> is also found in ''IG''5(2).3.2, 6.45, and [[εἰκ]] alone, ib.3.21; but [[ἄν]] ([[κε]], [[κεν]]) are freq. absent in Hom. as Od.5.221, 14.373 (and cf. infr. 2), and Lyr., Pi. (who never uses [[εἰ]] with [[ἄν]] or κε (ν)) ''P.''4.266, al.; in dialects, αἰ δείλητ' ἀγχωρεῖν ''IG''9(1).334.6 (Locr., v B. C.), cf. Foed.Dor. ap. Th.5.79; rarely in [[Herodotus|Hdt.]], εἰ μὴ ἀναβῇ 2.13; occasionally in Trag., A.''Eu.'' 234, [[Sophocles|S.]]''[[Oedipus Tyrannus|OT]]''198 (lyr.), etc.; very rarely in Att. Prose, εἰ ξυστῶσιν αἱ πόλεις Th.6.21; εἴ τι που ἄλσος ἢ τέμενος ἀφειμένον ᾖ Pl.''Lg.''761c: in later Prose, εἴ τις θελήσῃ ''Apoc.''11.5; εἰ φονεύῃ Plot.2.9.9, cf. Procl. ''Inst.''26.<br><span class="bld">1</span> when the apodosis is fut., to express a future condition more distinctly and vividly than [[εἰ]] c. opt., but less so than [[εἰ]] c. fut. ind. (supr. 1.2a); <b class="b3">εἰ δέ κεν ὣς ἕρξῃς καί τοι πείθωνται Ἀχαιοί, γνώσῃ ἔπειθ'</b>… [[if]] thou do thus... thou shalt know, Il.2.364, cf. 1.128, 3.281, Od.17.549; ἂν δέ τις ἀνθιστῆται, σὺν ὑμῖν πειρασόμεθα χειροῦσθαι X. ''An.''7.3.11; <b class="b3">ἂν μὴ νῦν ἐθέλωμεν ἐκεῖ πολεμεῖν αὐτῷ, ἐνθάδ' ἴσως ἀναγκασθησόμεθα</b> <b class="b3">τοῦτο ποιεῖν</b> [[if]] we be not now willing, D.4.50, cf. [[Xenophon|X.]]''[[Cyropaedia|Cyr.]]'' 5.3.27: followed by imper., <b class="b3">ἢν εἰρήνης δοκῆτε δεῖσθαι, ἄνευ ὅπλων ἥκετε</b> ib.3.2.13, cf. 5.4.30.<br><span class="bld">2</span> when the apodosis is present, denoting customary or repeated action, to express a general condition, [[if ever]], <b class="b3">ἤν ποτε δασμὸς ἵκηται, σοὶ τὸ γέρας πολὺ μεῖζον</b> (''[[sc.]]'' [[ἐστί]]) [[whenever]] a division comes, your prize is (always) greater, Il.1.166; <b class="b3">ἢν ἐγγὺς ἔλθῃ θάνατος, οὐδεὶς βούλεται θνῄσκειν</b> [[if]] death come near, E.''Alc.'' 671; with [[ἄν]] omitted, εἴ περ γάρ τε χόλον… καταπέψῃ ἀλλά… ἔχει κότον Il.1.81.<br><span class="bld">b</span> with Rhet. present in apodosis, <b class="b3">ἐὰν μὴ οἱ φιλόσοφοι βασιλεύσωσιν, οὐκ ἔστι κακῶν παῦλα</b> there is (i.e. can be, will be) no rest... Pl.''R.''473d.<br><span class="bld">III</span> with OPTATIVE (never with [[ἄν]] in early Gr., later [[ἐάν]] c. opt., Dam.''Pr.''114, al.),<br><span class="bld">1</span> to express a future condition less definitely than [[ἐάν]] c. subj., usually with opt. with [[ἄν]] in apod., <b class="b3">ἦ κεν γηθήσαι Πρίαμος Πριάμοιό τε παῖδες… εἰ σφῶιν τάδε πάντα πυθοίατο μαρναμένοιιν</b> surely they would exult, [[if]] they should hear... Il.1.255, cf. 7.28, Od.3.223; εἴης φορητὸς οὐκ ἄν, εἰ πράσσοις καλῶς A.''Pr.''979; οὐδὲ γὰρ ἄν με ἐπαινοίη, εἰ ἐξελαύνοιμι τοὺς εὐεργέτας X.''An.''7.7.11; οἶκος δ' αὐτός, εἰ φθογγὴν λάβοι, σαφέστατ' ἂν λέξειεν A.''Ag.''37, etc.: fut. opt. is [[falsa lectio|f.l.]] in [[Plato|Pl.]]''[[Theaetetus|Tht.]]''164a: with pres. ind. in apod., Xenoph.34.3, Democr.253: with fut.ind., Meliss.5.<br><span class="bld">b</span> in Hom.sts. with pres. opt., to express an unfulfilled present condition, <b class="b3">εἰ μὲν νῦν ἐπὶ ἄλλῳ ἀεθλεύοιμεν, ἦ τ' ἂν ἐγὼ τὰ πρῶτα φεροίμην</b> [[if]] we were now contending, etc., Il.23.274: rarely in Trag., <b class="b3">εἰ μὴ κνίζοι</b>( = [[εἰ μὴ ἔκνιζε]]) E.''Med.''568; also εἰ ἀναγκαῖον εἴη ἀδικεῖν ἢ ἀδικεῖσθαι, ἑλοίμην ἂν μᾶλλον ἀδικεῖσθαι Pl.''Grg.''469c.<br><span class="bld">2</span> when the apodosis is past, denoting [[customary]] or repeated [[action]], to express a general condition in past time (corresponding to use of subj. in present time, supr. 11.2); once in Hom., εἴ τίς με… ἐνίπτοι, ἀλλὰ σὺ τόν γ'… κατέρυκες Il.24.768; <b class="b3">εἰ δέ τινας θορυβουμένους αἴσθοιτο... κατασβεννύναι τὴν ταραχὴν ἐπειρᾶτο</b> [[if]] he should see ([[whenever]] he saw) any troops in confusion, he (always) tried, [[Xenophon|X.]]''[[Cyropaedia|Cyr.]]''5.3.55, cf. ''An.''4.5.13, ''Mem.''4.2.40; <b class="b3">εἴ τις ἀντείποι, εὐθὺς ἐτεθνήκει</b> [[if]] any one made objection, he was a dead man at once, Th. 8.66; ἀλλ' εἴ τι μὴ φέροιμεν, ὤτρυνεν φέρειν E.''Alc./span>755''. For [[εἰ]] c. ind. in this sense v. supr. 1.1: ind. and opt. are found in same sentence, ἐμίσει, οὐκ εἴ τις κακῶς πάσχων ἠμύνετο, ἀλλ' εἴ τις εὐεργετούμενος ἀχάριστος φαίνοιτο X.''Ages.''11.3.<br><span class="bld">3</span> in oratio obliqua after past tenses, representing [[ἐάν]] c. subj. or [[εἰ]] with a primary (never an historical) tense of the ind. in oratio recta, <b class="b3">ἐλογίζοντο ὡς, εἰ μὴ μάχοιντο, ἀποστήσοιντο αἱ πόλεις</b> (representing <b class="b3">ἐὰν μὴ μαχώμεθα, ἀποστήσονται</b>) X.''HG''6.4.6, cf. D.21.104, X.''HG''5.2.2; <b class="b3">ἔλεγεν ὅτι, εἰ βλαβερὰ πεπραχὼς εἴη, δίκαιος εἴη ζημιοῦσθαι</b> (representing <b class="b3">εἰ βλαβερὰ πέπραχε, δίκαιός ἐστι</b>) ib.32, cf. ''An.''6.6.25; <b class="b3">εἰ δέ τινα φεύγοντα λήψοιτο, προηγόρευεν ὅτι ὡς πολεμίῳ χρήσοιτο</b> (representing <b class="b3">εἴ τινα λήψομαι, χρήσομαι</b>) Id.''Cyr.''3.1.3; also, where oratio obliqua is implied in the leading clause, <b class="b3">οὐκ ἦν τοῦ πολέμου πέρας Φιλίππῳ, εἰ μὴ Θηβαίους… ἐχθροὺς ποιήσειε τῇ πόλει</b>, i.e. Philip thought there would be no end to the war, [[un]]less he should make… (his thought having been <b class="b3">ἐὰν μὴ ποιήσω</b>), D.18.145; ἐβούλοντο γὰρ σφίσιν, εἴ τινα λάβοιεν, ὑπάρχειν ἀντὶ τῶν ἔνδον, ἢν ἄρα τύχωσί τινες ἐζωγρημένοι Th.2.5.<br><span class="bld">4</span> c. opt. with [[ἄν]], only when the clause serves as apodosis as well as protasis, cf. Pl.''Prt.''329b, D.4.18, [[Xenophon|X.]]''[[Memorabilia|Mem.]]''1.5.3 (v. ἄν A. 111. d).<br><span class="bld">IV</span> c. INF., in oratio obliqua, only in [[Herodotus|Hdt.]], εἰ γὰρ δὴ δεῖν πάντως περιθεῖναι ἄλλῳ τέῳ τὴν βασιληΐην, [ἔφη] δικαιότερον εἶναι κτλ. 1.129; εἰ εἶναι τοῦτο μὴ φίλον 2.64, cf. 172, 3.105,108.<br><span class="bld">V</span> after Verbs denoting [[wonder]], [[delight]], [[indignation]], [[disappointment]], [[contentment]], and similar emotions, [[εἰ]] c. ind. is used instead of [[ὅτι]], to express the object of the feeling in a hypothetical form, <b class="b3">θαυμάζω εἰ μηδεὶς ὑμῶν μήτ' ἐνθυμεῖται μήτ' ὀργίζεται, ὁρῶν</b>… I wonder [[that]] no one of you is either concerned or angry when he sees... D.4.43; οὐκ ἀγαπᾷ εἰ μὴ δίκην δέδωκεν, ἀλλ' εἰ μὴ καὶ χρυσῷ στεφάνῳ στεφανωθήσεται ἀγανακτεῖ Aeschin.3.147: after past tenses, ἐθαύμασε δ' εἰ μὴ φανερόν ἐστιν [[Xenophon|X.]]''[[Memorabilia|Mem.]]''1.1.13; δεινὸν εἰσῄει, εἰ μὴ… δόξει D.19.33; ἐθαύμαζον εἴ τι ἕξει τις χρήσασθαι τῷ λόγῳ Pl.''Phd.''95a; οὐδὲ ᾐσχύνθη εἰ… ἐπάγει D.21.105: in oratio obliqua (expressed or implied) c. opt., <b class="b3">ἐπεῖπεν ὡς δεινὸν</b> (''[[sc.]]'' [[εἴη]]) εἰ… μεγαλόψυχος γένοιτο Aeschin.2.157; ᾤκτιρον εἰ ἁλώσοιντο X.''An.''1.4.7; <b class="b3">ἐθαύμαζε δ' εἴ τις ἀρετὴν ἐπαγγελλόμενος ἀργύριον πράττοιτο</b> he wondered [[that]] any one should demand money, Id.''Mem.''1.2.7; <b class="b3">ἔχαιρον ἀγαπῶν εἴ τις ἐάσοι</b> I rejoiced, being content [[if]] any one should let it pass, Pl.''R.''450a:—in this use the neg. [[οὐ]] is also found, ἀγανακτῶ εἰ ὁ Φίλιππος ἁρπάζων οὐ λυπεῖ D.8.55; δεινὸν ἂν εἴη εἰ οἱ ἐκείνων ξύμμαχοι οὐκ ἀπεροῦσιν Th.1.121; τέρας λέγεις, εἰ οὐκ ἂν δύναιντο λαθεῖν Pl.''Men.''91d, etc.<br><span class="bld">VI</span> in citing a fact as a ground of argument or appeal, [[as surely as]], [[since]], <b class="b3">εἴ ποτ' ἔην γε</b> [[if]] there was [as there was], i.e. [[as sure as]] there was such an one, Il.3.180, al.; εἰ τότε κοῦρος ἔα, νῦν αὖτέ με γῆρας ὀπάζει 4.321; <b class="b3">πολλοὺς γὰρ οἶκε εἶναι εὐπετέστερον διαβάλλειν ἢ ἕνα, εἰ Κλεομένεα μὲν μοῦνον οὐκ οἷός τε ἐγένετο διαβαλεῖν, τρεῖς δὲ μυριάδας Ἀθηναίων ἐποίησε τοῦτο</b> it seems easier to deceive many than one, [[if]] (as was the fact, i.e. [[since]]) he was not able... [[Herodotus|Hdt.]]5.97, cf. 1.60,al.<br><span class="bld">VII</span> ELLIPTICAL CONSTRUCTIONS:<br><span class="bld">1</span> with apodosis implied in the context, [[εἰ]] having the force of [[in case]], [[supposing that]], <b class="b3">πρὸς τὴν πόλιν, εἰ ἐπιβοηθοῖεν, ἐχώρουν</b> they marched towards the city [so as to meet the citizens], [[in case]] they should rush out, Th.6.100; <b class="b3">ἱκέται πρὸς σὲ δεῦρ' ἀφίγμεθα, εἴ τινα πόλιν φράσειας ἡμῖν εὔερον</b> we have come hither to you, [[in case]] you should tell us of some fleecy city (i.e. that we might hear of it), [[Aristophanes|Ar.]]''[[The Birds|Av.]]''120; <b class="b3">παρέζεο καὶ λαβὲ γούνων, αἴ κέν πως ἐθέλῃσιν ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀρῆξαι</b> sit by him and grasp his knees [so as to persuade him], [[in case]] he be willing to help the Trojans, Il.1.408, cf. 66, Od.1.94, 3.92; <b class="b3">ἄκουσον καὶ ἐμοῦ, ἐάν σοι ἔτι ταὐτὰ δοκῇ</b> hear me also [that you may assent], [[in case]] the same opinion please you, Pl.''R.''358b; <b class="b3">ἰδὲ δή, ἐάν σοι ὅπερ ἐμοὶ συνδοκῇ</b> look now, [[in case]] you approve what I do, ib. 434a.<br><span class="bld">2</span> with apodosis suppressed for rhetorical reasons, <b class="b3">εἴ περ γάρ κ' ἐθέλῃσιν Ὀλύμπιος… στυφελίξαι</b> [[if]] he wish to thrust him away, [he will do so], Il.1.580; <b class="b3">εἰ μὲν δώσουσι γέρας—· εἰ δέ κε μὴ δώωσιν, ἐγὼ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕλωμαι</b> [[if]] they shall give me a prize, [well and good]; but [[if]] they give not, then I will take one for myself, 1.135, cf. 6.150, Ar.''Pl.''468; <b class="b3">καὶ ἢν μὲν ξυμβῇ ἡ πεῖρα—· εἰ δὲ μή</b>… and [[if]] the attempt succeed, [well]; otherwise... Th.3.3, cf. Pl.''Prt.''325d.<br><span class="bld">3</span> with the Verb of the protasis omitted, chiefly in the following expressions:<br><span class="bld">a</span> <b class="b3">εἰ μή</b> [[except]], οὐδὲν ἄλλο σιτέονται, εἰ μὴ ἰχθῦς μοῦνον [[Herodotus|Hdt.]] 1.200; <b class="b3">μὰ τὼ θεώ, εἰ μὴ Κρίτυλλά γ' [εἰμί]</b>—nay, [[if]] I'm not Critylla! i.e. I am, Ar.''Th.''898; <b class="b3">εἰ μὴ ὅσον</b> [[except]] only, ἐγὼ μέν μιν οὐκ εἶδον, εἰ μὴ ὅσον γραφῇ [[Herodotus|Hdt.]]2.73, cf. 1.45, 2.20; εἰ μὴ εἰ Th.1.17, Pl.''Grg.''480b, etc.; <b class="b3">εἰ μή τι οὖν, ἀλλὰ σμικρόν γέ μοι τῆς ἀρχῆς χάλασον</b> [[if]] nothing else, yet... Id.''Men.''86e; ironical, εἰ μὴ ἄρα ἡ τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐπιμέλεια διαφθορά ἐστιν [[Xenophon|X.]]''[[Memorabilia|Mem.]]''1.2.8; εἰ μή πέρ γε τὸν ὑοσκύαμον χρήματα εἶναι φήσομεν Id.''Oec.''1.13.<br><span class="bld">b</span> <b class="b3">εἰ δὲ μή</b> but [[if]] not, i.e. [[otherwise]], προηγόρευε τοῖς Λαμψακηνοῖσι μετιέναι Μιλτιάδεα, εἰ δὲ μή, σφέας πίτυος τρόπον ἀπείλεε ἐκτρίψειν [[Herodotus|Hdt.]]6.37, cf. 56; after <b class="b3">μάλιστα μέν</b>, Th.1.32,35, etc.:—after a preceding neg., <b class="b3">μὴ τύπτ'· εἰ δὲ μή, σαυτόν ποτ' αἰτιάσει</b> don't beat me; [[otherwise]], you will have yourself to blame, Ar.''Nu.'' 1433; ὦ Κῦρε, μὴ οὕτω λέγε· εἰ δὲ μή, οὐ θαρροῦντά με ἕξεις [[Xenophon|X.]]''[[Cyropaedia|Cyr.]]''3.1.35; οὔτ' ἐν τῷ ὕδατι τὰ ὅπλα ἦν ἔχειν· εἰ δὲ μή Id.''An.''4.3.6, cf. Th.1.28, 131, Pl.''Phd.''91c.<br><span class="bld">c</span> <b class="b3">εἰ δέ</b> sometimes stands for εἰ δὲ μή, εἰ μὲν βούλεται, ἑψέτω· εἰ δ', ὅτι βούλεται, τοῦτο ποιείτω Pl.''Euthd.''285c, cf. ''Smp.''212c; εἰ δ' οὖν S.''Ant.''722; εἰ δ' οὕτως [[Aristotle|Arist.]]''[[Nicomachean Ethics|EN]]''1094a24; <b class="b3">εἰ δὲ τοῦτο</b> and [[if]] so, Str.2.1.29.<br><span class="bld">d</span> <b class="b3">εἰ γάρ</b> for [[if]] so, Id.7.3.6.<br><span class="bld">e</span> <b class="b3">εἴ τις</b> [[if]] any, i.e. [[as much as]] or [[more than]] any, τῶν γε νῦν αἴ τις ἐπιχθονίων, ὀρθῶς B.5.5; ὄτλον ἄλγιστον ἔσχον, εἴ τις Αἰτωλὶς γυνή S.''Tr.''8, cf. ''OC''734; <b class="b3">εἴ τις ἄλλος</b>, [[siquis alius]], E.''Andr.''6, etc.; εἴ τινες καὶ ἄλλοι [[Herodotus|Hdt.]]3.2, etc.; εἴπερ τις ἄλλος Pl.''R.''501d; also <b class="b3">κατ' εἰ δέ τινα τρόπον</b> in [[any]] way, ''IG'' 5(2).6.27 (Tegea).<br><span class="bld">f</span> <b class="b3">εἴ ποτε</b> or <b class="b3">εἴπερ ποτέ</b> [[now if]] ever, ἡμῖν δὲ καλῶς, εἴπερ ποτέ, ἔχει… ἡ ξυναλλαγή Th.4.20, cf. [[Aristophanes|Ar.]]''[[The Knights|Eq.]]''594; αἴ ποτα κἄλλοτα Alc.''Supp.''7.11, cf. X.''An.''6.4.12, etc.; but in prayers, εἴ ποτέ τοι ἐπὶ νηὸν ἔρεψα… τόδε μοι κρήηνον ἐέλδωρ Il.1.39.<br><span class="bld">g</span> <b class="b3">εἴ ποθεν</b> (''[[sc.]]'' <b class="b3">δυνατόν ἐστι</b>) [[if]] from any quarter, i.e. from some quarter or other, S.''Ph.'' 1204 (lyr.); so <b class="b3">εἴ ποθι</b> somewhere, anywhere, Id.''Aj.''885 (lyr.); εἴ που Od.4.193.<br><span class="bld">h</span> <b class="b3">εἴ πως</b> ib.388, X.''An.''2.3.11: in an elliptical sentence (cf. VII. ''1''), πρέσβεις πέμψαντες, εἴ πως πείσειαν Th.1.58.<br><span class="bld">VIII</span> with other PARTICLES:<br><span class="bld">1</span> for the distinction between <b class="b3">καὶ εἰ</b> (or <b class="b3">καὶ ἐάν</b>, or [[κἄν]]) even [[if]], and <b class="b3">εἰ καί</b> (or <b class="b3">ἐὰν καί</b>) even [[though]], v. [[καί]]:—the opposite of <b class="b3">καὶ εἰ</b> is <b class="b3">οὐδ' εἰ</b>, not even [[if]]; that of <b class="b3">εἰ καί</b> is <b class="b3">εἰ μηδέ</b>, if (although) not even.<br><span class="bld">2</span> for <b class="b3">ὡς εἰ, ὡς εἴ τε, ὥσπερ εἰ</b>, etc., v. [[ὡς]] and [[ὥσπερ]].<br><span class="bld">3</span> for <b class="b3">εἰ ἄρα</b>, v. [[ἄρα]]; for <b class="b3">εἰ δή, εἴπερ</b>, v. [[εἰ δή, εἴπερ]]; for <b class="b3">εἴ γε</b>, v. [[γέ]].<br><span class="bld">IX</span> in neg. oaths, = Hebr. [[im]], [[LXX]] ''Ps.''94(95).11, ''Ev.Marc.''8.12, al.<br><span class="bld">C</span> IN INDIRECT QUESTIONS, [[whether]], followed by the ind., subj., or opt., according to the principles of oratio obliqua:<br><span class="bld">1</span> with IND. after primary tenses, representing the same tense in the direct question, <b class="b3">σάφα δ' οὐκ οἶδ' εἰ θεός ἐστιν</b> [[whether]] he is a god, Il.5.183; εἰ ξυμπονήσεις… σκόπει S.''Ant.''41.<br><span class="bld">2</span> with SUBJ. after primary tenses, representing a dubitative subj. in the direct question, <b class="b3">τὰ ἐκπώματα οὐκ οἶδ' εἰ Χρυσάντᾳ τουτῳῒ δῶ</b> [[whether]] I should give them, [[Xenophon|X.]]''[[Cyropaedia|Cyr.]]''8.4.16: sometimes elliptical, ἐς τὰ χρηστήρια ἔπεμπε, εἰ στρατεύηται ἐπὶ τοὺς Πέρσας [[Herodotus|Hdt.]]1.75.<br><span class="bld">3</span> OPT. after past tenses, representing either of the two previous constructions in the direct question, <b class="b3">ἤρετο εἴ τις ἐμοῦ εἴη σοφώτερος</b> he asked [[whether]] any one was wiser than I (direct <b class="b3">ἔστι τις σοφώτερος</b>;), Pl.''Ap.''21a; ἐπεκηρυκεύετο Πεισιστράτῳ, εἰ βούλοιτό οἱ τὴν θυγατέρα ἔχειν γυναῖκα [[Herodotus|Hdt.]]1.60: rarely aor. opt. for the aor. ind., <b class="b3">ἠρώτων αὐτὸν εἰ ἀναπλεύσειεν</b> I asked him [[whether]] he had set sail (direct [[ἀνέπλευσας]];), D.50.55: but aor. opt. usually represents aor. subj., <b class="b3">τὸν θεὸν ἐπήροντο εἰ παραδοῖεν Κορινθίοις τὴν πόλιν… καὶ τιμωρίαν τινὰ πειρῷντ' ἀπ' αὐτῶν ποιεῖσθαι</b> they asked [[whether]] they should deliver their city to the Corinthians, and should try... Th.1.25:—in both constructions the ind. or subj. may be retained, <b class="b3">ψῆφον ἐβούλοντο ἐπαγαγεῖν εἰ χρὴ πολεμεῖν</b> ib.119; <b class="b3">ἐβουλεύοντο εἴτε κατακαύσωσιν… εἴτε τι ἄλλο χρήσωνται</b> [[whether]] they should burn them or should dispose of them in some other way, Id.2.4; <b class="b3">ἀνακοινοῦσθαι αὐτὸν αὑτῷ εἰ δῷ ἐπιψηφίσαι τοῖς προέδροις</b> [he said that] he consulted him [[whether]] he should give... Aeschin.2.68.<br><span class="bld">4</span> with OPT. and [[ἄν]] when this was the form of the direct question, <b class="b3">ἠρώτων εἰ δοῖεν ἂν τούτων τὰ πιστά</b> they asked [[whether]] they would give (direct <b class="b3">δοιήτε ἄν</b>;), X.''An.''4.8.7.<br><span class="bld">5</span> the NEG. used with [[εἰ]] in indirect questions is [[οὐ]], when [[οὐ]] would be used in the direct question, <b class="b3">ἐνετέλλετο… εἰρωτᾶν εἰ οὔ τι ἐπαισχύνεται</b> [[whether]] he is not ashamed, [[Herodotus|Hdt.]]1.90, etc.; but if [[μή]] would be required in the direct form, it is retained in the indirect, <b class="b3">οὐ τοῦτο ἐρωτῶ, ἀλλ' εἰ τοῦ μὲν δικαίου μὴ ἀξιοῖ πλέον ἔχειν μηδὲ βούλεται ὁ δίκαιος, τοῦ δὲ ἀδίκου</b> (the direct question would be <b class="b3">μὴ ἀξιοῖ μηδὲ βούλεται</b>; he does not see fit nor wish, does he?) Pl.''R.'' 349b:—in double indirect questions, <b class="b3">εἴτε… εἴτε…; εἰ… εἴτε…; εἴτε… ἢ.</b>.. either [[οὐ]] or [[μή]] can be used in the second clause, ὅπως ἴδῃς εἴτ' ἔνδον εἴτ' οὐκ ἔνδον [[Sophocles|S.]]''[[Ajax|Aj.]]''7; σκοπῶμεν εἰ ἡμῖν πρέπει ἢ οὔ Pl.''R.''451d; <b class="b3">εἰ ἀληθὲς ἢ μή, πειράσομαι μαθεῖν</b> ib.339a; πολλὰ ἂν περιεσκέψω, εἴτε ἐπιτρεπτέον εἴτε οὔ·… οὐδένα λόγον οὐδὲ συμβουλὴν ποιῇ, εἴτε χρὴ ἐπιτρέπειν σαυτὸν αὐτῷ εἴτε μή Id.''Prt.''313a, 313b; ἀνάγκη τὴν ἐμὴν μητέρα, εἴτε θυγάτηρ ἦν Κίρωνος εἴτε μή, καὶ εἰ παρ' ἐκείνῳ διῃτᾶτο ἢ οὔ, καὶ γάμους εἰ διττοὺς ὑπὲρ ταύτης εἱστίασεν ἢ μὴ… πάντα ταῦτα εἰδέναι τοὺς οἰκέτας Is.8.9; <b class="b3">τοὺς νόμους καταμανθάνειν εἰ καλῶς κεῖνται ἢ μή.. τοὺς λόγους εἰ ὀρθῶς ὑμᾶς διδάσκουσιν ἢ οὔ</b> Antipho 5.14.