previous next


Ὡς WITH A PARTICIPLE IN INDIRECT DISCOURSE

2120. ὡς is often used with a participle in indirect discourse to mark the mental attitude of the subject of the main verb or of some other person mentioned prominently in the sentence (cp. 2086); sometimes, to denote emphasis, when that mental attitude is already clearly marked.

ὡς μηδὲν εἰδότ᾽ ἴσθι με be assured that I know nothing (lit. understand that you are to assume that I know nothing) S. Ph. 253, δῆλος ἦν Κῦρος ὡς σπεύδων Cyrus was plainly bent on haste (Cyrus showed that it was his intention to make haste) X. A. 1.5.9.

2121. A participle with ὡς may follow a verb of thinking or saying though the verb in question does not take the participle in indirect discourse without ὡς. Thus, ““ὡς τὰ βέλτιστα βουλεύοντες ἰ_σχυ_ρίζοντοthey kept insisting in the belief that they were recommending the best courseT. 4.68, ὡς στρατηγήσοντ᾽ ἐμὲ ταύτην τὴν στρατηγία_ν μηδεὶς ὑ_μῶν λεγέτω let no one of you say (i.e. speak of me in the belief) that I will assume this command X. A. 1.3.15.

2122. So after verbs admitting the supplementary participle in indirect discourse we may have the genitive or accusative absolute with ὡς instead of the participle or a clause with ὅτι or ὡς. Thus, ὡς πολέμου ὄντος παρ᾽ ὑ_μῶν ἀπαγγελῶ; shall I report from you (on the assumption) that there is war? X. A. 2.1.21, ὡς ἐμοῦ οὖν ἰόντος, ὅπῃ καὶ ὑ_μεῖς, οὕτω τὴν γνώμην ἔχετε make up your minds (on the assumption) that I am going wherever you go (= be sure that I am going, etc.) 1. 3. 6 (here τὴν γνώμην ἔχετε could not take the participle without ὡς); ὡς πάνυ μοι δοκοῦν, οὕτως ἴσθι rest assured that it is my decided opinion (lit. on the assumption that this seems so to me, understand accordingly) X. M. 4.2.30. For ὡς with the absolute participle not in indirect discourse, see 2086 d.

hide Display Preferences
Greek Display:
Arabic Display:
View by Default:
Browse Bar: