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388. Optative in wishes.

In principal clauses, the use of the optative, or wishing, mood in standard Greek is confined to the expression of wishes the fulfilment of which is still in suspense. The negative is “μή”.

διαρραγείης,AR. Av. 2 ; May you burst in two!μὴ παύσαιο μηδέποτ᾽ ἐσθίων,AR. Pax 31 ; May you never stop eating!

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