Herbert Weir Smyth, A Greek Grammar for Colleges

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POSITIVE

[*] 1063. The positive, used to imply that something is not suited or inadequate for the purpose in question, is especially common before an infinitive with or without ὥστε (ὡς): (τὸ ὕδωρ) ψυ_χρόν ἐστιν ὥστε λούσασθαι the water is too cold for bathing X. M. 3.13.3, νῆες ὀλίγαι ἀμύ_νειν ships too few to defend T. 1.50, μακρὸν ἂν εἴη μοι λέγειν it would take too long for me to state And. 2.15.

[*] 1064. A positive adjective followed by the genitive of the same adjective has, in poetry, the force of a superlative: ““κακὰ κακῶν” woe of woe” S. O. C. 1238.

[*] 1065. μᾶλλον ἤ rather than, more . . . than may be used after a positive: ““προθύ_μως μᾶλλον ἢ φίλως” more prompt than kindly” A. Ag. 1591.