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Subjunctive.

The Latin Subjunctive combines the functions of the Greek Subjunctive and Optative. Comparative Philology tells us that forms in -im were originally Optative-forms; thus sim, older siēm, is the Latin equivalent of Gk. ἐσίην, εἴην while the Latin Future ero (from eso) is the equivalent of the Gk. Subjunctive ὦ, older ἔσω. Old Latin forms like amassim, prohibessim, faxim were apparently originally S-Aorist Optatives, and in the language of Plautus' time they still retain traces of their origin; for in 3rd Person they are in independent sentences mainly used in prayers and curses, e.g. di melius faxint (passim), “Iuppiter prohibessit” Pseud. 14; in 1st Person they are appropriate to Conditional statements, e.g. “haud (non) ausim” Aul. 474, etc.; in 2nd Person to Prohibitions, e.g. “ne dixis” Asin. 839, etc., “cave respexis” Most. 523. (For a full account of these -sim forms in independent sentences in Plautus, see Morris in Amer. Journ. Phil. 18, 165 sqq.)

Syntax of Plautus. W. M. Lindsay. Anne Mahoney. edited for Perseus. Oxford. J. Parker and Co. 1907.

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