μή : not,
lest.—(1) adv., not, differing from
οὐκ in expressing a negation
subjectively.
μή is the regular neg. particle with the
inf., in conditions and cond. rel. clauses, in prohibitions and
exhortations, in wishes, and in final clauses introduced by ἵνα, ὡς, etc. μή σε
παρὰ νηυσί κιχείω, ‘let me not catch thee near
the ships!’ Il. 1.26
; ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς.. μὴ μὲν τοῖς ἵπποισιν
ἀνὴρ ἐποχήσεται ἄλλος (μή, and not οὐ, because the
statement is in sense dependent on ἴστω,
though grammatically the ind. is allowed to stand instead of being
changed to the inf.), Il. 10.330, cf.
Il. 15.41.—(2) conj.,
that not, lest (n e), introducing final clauses and
object clauses after verbs of fearing, ἀπόστιχε,
μή τι νοήσῃ | Ἥρη, ‘in order that Hera may not take note of
anything,’ Il. 1.522
; δείδω μὴ δὴ πάντα θεα? νημερτέα
ϝεῖπεν, ‘lest all the goddess said was
true,’ Od. 5.300
.—μή is combined variously with
other particles, μὴ δή, μὴ μα?ν, μή που, μή
ποτε, μή πως, etc. It is joined to interrogative words only
when the question expects a negative answer, ἦ
μή (num), Od. 9.405, 406, Od.
6.200.