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2739. Verbs and expressions of negative meaning, such as deny, refuse, hinder, forbid, avoid, often take the infinitive with a redundant μή to confirm the negative idea of the leading verb.

With this compare: “First he denied you had in him no right” (Shakesp., Com. of Er. 4. 2. 7); and “La pluie . . . empêche qu'on ne se promène” (Racine); “Verbot ihnen Jesus, dass sie Niemand sagen sollten” (St. Mark 9. 9).

καταρνῇ μὴ δεδρα_κέναι τάδε; dost thou deny that thou hast done this? S. Ant. 442, ““ἀποκωλῦσαι τοὺς Ἕλληνας μὴ ἐλθεῖνto hinder the Greeks from comingX. A. 6.4.24, ““κήρῦκα προέπεμψεν αὐτοῖς . . . ἀπεροῦντα μὴ πλεῖνthey sent a herald to forbid them to sailT. 1.29, ““εὐλαβήσεσθε μὴ πολλῶν ἐναντίον λέγεινyou will beware of speaking in publicP. Eu. 304a, ““ἀπέσχοντο μὴ ἐπὶ τὴν ἑκατέρων γῆν στρατεῦσαιthey abstained from marching upon each other's territoryT. 5.25.

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