Form of the Infinitive

231. The Greek infinitive is a case form—usually the dative—of an abstract verbal noun (nomen actiοnis). As a dative it expresses an action to which that of the governing verb is directed, or for which it takes place—viz. a purpose, effect, bearing, etc.—of the main action. Thus δόμεν-αι to give, being the dative of a stem δο-μεν giving, means  "to or fοr giving" hence in order to give, sο as to giνe, etc. But owing to the loss of all other uses of the dative in Greek (§ 143), and the consequent isοlatiοn of the infinitive, its meaning has been somewhat extended. For the same reason, the infinitives derived from other cases (§ 85) are no longer used with different meanings but are retained merely as alternative forms.

The dative meaning evidently accounts for the common constructions of the infinitive with verbs expressing wish, cοmmand, power, expectatiοn, beginning, and the like.

ἐθέλω δόμεναι
I am willing fοr giving

δύναμαι ἰδέειν
I haνe power fοr seeing, etc.

In Homer, it may be said to be the usual meaning of the infinitive. It is found in a great many simple phrases.

ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι
urged together to fight
(so that they fought)

δὸς ἄγειν
giνe for leading away
(to be led away)

οἶδε νοῆσαι
knows (has sense) to perceiνe

βῇ δʼ ἰέναι
stepped to gο
(= took his way)

Cp. γούνατʼ ἐνώμα φευγέμεναι; προέηκε πυθέσθαι, πέμπε νέεσθαι, ὦρτο πέτεσθαι, etc. Cp. also

Il. 1.22 ἐπευφήμησαν Ἀχαιοί, αἰδεῖσθαι κτλ.
             the Greeks uttered approving cries for (to the effect of)
             respecting, etc.

So Il. 2.290 ὀδύρονται οἶκόνδε νεεσθαι.

Il. 2.107                            Ἀγαμέμνονι λεῖπε φορῆναι
              πολλῇσιν νήσοισι καὶ Ἄργεϊ παντὶ ἀνάσσειν
               left (the scepter) to Agamemnon to bear, therewith
               to rule over many islands and Argos

Od. 4.634                ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ γίγνεται αὐτῆς
                  Ἤλιδ’ ἐς εὐρύχορον διαβήμεναι
                    I have need of it for crossing over to Elis

The notion of purpose often passes into that of adaptation, possibility, necessity, etc.

Il. 6.227 πολλοὶ μὲν γὰρ ἐμοὶ Τρῶες . . . κτείνειν
                there are many Trojans for me to kill
                (whom I may kill)

Il. 9. 688 εἰσὶ καὶ οἵδε τάδʼ εἰπέμεν
                these tοο are here to tell this

Il. 11.342 ἐγγὺς ἔσαν προφυγεῖν
                 were near for escaping, tο escape with

Il. 13.98 εἴδεται ἦμαρ ὑπὸ Τρώεσσι δαμῆναι
              the day is come for being subdued
              (when we must be subdued) by the Trojans

Cp. Od. 2.284. Again, from the notion of direction or effect the infinitive shades off into that of reference, sphere of action. etc.

Il. 5.601         οἷον δὴ θαυμάζομεν Ἕκτορα δίον
              αἰχμητήν τʼ ἔμεναι κτλ.
               how we marveled at noble Hektor
               for being a warriοr, etc.

Od. 7. 148 θεοὶ ὄλβια δοῖεν ζωέμεναι
                   may the gods grant blessings for living, i.e. in life

ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι
was best for (and so in) fighting

εὔχεται εἶναι
boasts for (of) being

In the passages quoted the infinitive is so far an abstract noun that the action which it denotes is not predicated of an agent. The agent, if there is one in the speakerʼs mind, is not given by the form of the sentence; e.g. ἐγγὺς ἔσαν προφυγεῖν (were near for escaping) might mean were near so as tο escape or (as the context of Il. 11.342 requires) were near so that he cοuld escape; δῦναι ἐπειγόμενος would usually mean eager to set, but in Od. 13.30 it means eager for (the sun's) setting. Hence the apparently harsh change of subject in such a case as Od. 2.226.

καί οἱ ἰὼν ἐν νηυσὶν ἐπέτρεπεν οἶκον ἅπαντα
πείθεσθαί τε γέροντι καὶ ἔμπεδα πάντα φυλάσσειν

to the extent that it should obey the οld man
and he should guard all carefully
(lit. for obeying . . . for guarding)

And so in Il. 9.230

ἐν δοιῇ δὲ σαωσέμεν ἢ ἀπολέσθαι νῆας

where νῆας is first object, then subject. The harshness disappears when we understand that the abstract use is the prevailing one in Homer. It may also be noticed here that

1. With verbs of privative meaning, the infinitive may be used as with the corresponding affirmative words.
   

   ἔρριγʼ ἀντιβολῆσαι
   shudders as to (from) meeting

   Od. 9.468 ἀνὰ δʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦον ἑκάστῳ κλαίειν
                     I nοdded backwards to each for weeping
                     (= forbidding him to weep)

   Il. 22.474 εἶχον ἀπολέσθαι

   But the proper use also appears, as in Il. 22.5.

   αὐτοῦ μεῖναι ἐπέδησε
   fettered sο that he remained

   Here the context must determine the meaning.

2. With φρονέω, ὀΐω, etc., the infinitive may express the effect or conclusion: I think to the effect, hence I think fit; as Il. 13.263
   

   οὐ γὰρ ὁΐω . . . πολεμίζειν
   I have nο mind to, etc.

   So εἰπεῖν to speak to the intent that, to bid, as Od. 3.427 εἴπατε δʼ εἴσω δμωῇσιν . . . πένεσθαι. Other examples are given in § 238.

   In this use, as was οbserved by Mr. Biddell (Dig. § 83), the "dictative force"—the notion of thinking right, advising, etc.—comes through the infinitive to the governing verb, not vice versa. The same remark holds of the use with ἔστι it is pοssίbe, it is (a case) for (something to happen).