I.interrog. and enclit. part. [weakened from nē]. It simply inquires, without implying either that a negative or an affirmative reply is expected (cf. num, nonne), and emphasizes the word to which it is joined; “which is always, in classic Latin, the first word of the clause (ante- class. after other words: sine dote uxoremne?” Plaut. Trin. 2, 2, 94; 1, 2, 141; id. As. 5, 2, 78; id. Mil. 3, 1, 92). In direct questions it is translated by giving an interrogative form to the sentence; in indirect interrogations by whether.
(α).
In direct interrogations, with indic.: “meministine me in senatu dicere? etc.,” Cic. Cat. 1, 3, 7: “potestne rerum major esse dissensio?” id. Fin. 3, 13, 44: “tune id veritus es?” id. Q. Fr. 1, 3, 1: “jamne vides, belua, jamne sentis? etc.,” id. Pis. 1, 1: “quid, si etiam falsum illud omnino est? tamenne ista tam absurda defendes?” id. N. D. 1, 29, 81; cf. id. Rosc. Am. 15, 44: “quiane auxilio juvat ante levatos?” Verg. A. 4, 538: “tun' te audes Sosiam esse dicere?” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 217: “valuistin?” id. Trin. 1, 2, 12.—After an elided s: “satin habes, si feminarum nulla'st: quam aeque diligam?” Plaut. Am. 1, 3, 11: “pergin autem?” id. ib. 1, 3, 41: “vin commutemus?” id. Trin. 1, 2, 21 al.—
(β).
Esp. with rel. pron.; ellipt.: quemne ego servavi? i. e. do you mean the one whom? etc., Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 13: quodne vobis placeat, displiceat mihi? can it be that what pleases? etc., id. ib. 3, 1, 19; id. Merc. 3, 3, 12; id. Am. 2, 2, 65; “so quin for quine,” id. Trin. 2, 2, 79 Brix ad loc.; id. Bacch. 2, 3, 98; id. Most. 3, 2, 50 al.—So with ut and si: “utine adveniens vomitum excutias mulieri?” Plaut. Merc. 3, 3, 15; id. Rud. 4, 4, 19: “sin, saluti quod tibi esse censeo, id. consuadeo,” id. Merc. 1, 2, 32.—
(γ).
In indirect interrogations, with subj., whether: “ut videamus, satisne ista sit justa defectio,” Cic. Ac. 1, 12, 43: “Publilius iturusne sit in Africam et quando, ex Aledio scire poteris,” id. Att. 12, 24, 1: “videto vasa, multane sient,” Cato, R. R. 1: “quem imitari possimusne, ipse liber erit indicio,” Varr. L. L. 7, § 4 Müll.; cf. id. ib. 10, § 10.—
(δ).
Sometimes affixed to an interrogative pronoun, Plaut. Cist. 4, 1, 2: “quone malo mentem concussa? Timore deorum,” Hor. S. 2, 3, 295; cf.: “uterne Ad casus dubios fidet sibi certius?” id. ib. 2, 2, 107; and: “illa rogare: Quantane?” id. ib. 2, 3, 317.—(ε) -ne is sometimes used for nonne, where an affirmative reply is expected: “misine ego ad te epistulam?” Plaut. Bacch. 3, 6, 22; id. Trin. 1, 2, 92; 99; id. Most. 2, 1, 15: “rectene interpretor sententiam tuam,” Cic. Tusc. 3, 17, 37; id. Fin. 2, 32, 104.—(ζ) Rarely = num: “potestne virtus servire?” Cic. de Or. 1, 52, 226: “potesne dicere?” id. Tusc. 1, 27, 67; id. Sen. 16, 56.—
b. With an, annon, or anne, in the second interrogation, v. an.—With necne, v. neque.—Sometimes pleonastic with utrum, followed by an (mostly anteclass.): “est etiam illa distinctio, utrum illudne non videatur aegre ferendum ... an, etc.,” Cic. Tusc. 4, 27, 59: “sed utrum strictimne attonsurum dicam esse an per pectinem, nescio,” Plaut. Capt. 2, 2, 18 Brix ad loc.; id. Most. 3, 1, 151; id. Bacch. 1, 1, 42; cf. Madv. Gram. § 452, obs. 1.—Sometimes, in the second interrogation, ne for an (mostly poet.): “Smyrna quid et Colophon? Majora minorane fama?” Hor. Ep. 1, 11, 3: “ut in incerto fuerit, vicissent victine essent,” Liv. 5, 28, 5: “cum interrogaretur, utrum pluris patrem matremne faceret,” Nep. Iphicr. 3, 4.