ἄν,

conditional particle,

which cannot usually be separately translated in English, its force depending on the constructions which contain it (see further, LS, see word; WM, §xlii; M, Pr. 165 ff.; MM, VGT, see word).

__1. In apodosis,

__(i) with indic, imperfect or aor. expressing what would be or would have been if (εἰ with impf. aor. or plpf.) some condition were or had been fulfilled: Luk.7:39 17:6, Jhn.5:46, Gal.1:10, Mat.12:7 24:43, 1Co.2:8, Act.18:14, 1Jn.2:19, al. The protasis is sometimes understood (as also in cl.): Mat.25:27, Luk.19:23. In hypothetical sentences, expressing unreality, ἄν (as often in late writers, more rarely in cl.) is omitted: Jhn.8:39 15:24 19:11, Rom.7:7, Gal.4:15;

__(ii) with opt. inf. ptcp. (cl.; see LS, see word; M, Int. §275; M, Pr. 167:4).

__2. In combination with conditional, relative, temporal, and final words;

__(i) as in cl. with subj.

__(a) in protasis with εἰ, in Attic contr. ἐάν, which see;

__(b) in conditional, relative, and temporal clauses (coalescing with ὅτε, ἐπεί, etc.; see: ὅταν, ἐπάν, etc.), ever, soever;

__(α) with pres. ἡνίκα, 2Co.3:15; ὃς ἄν, Rom.9:15 (LXX) 16:2, al.; ὅσοι ἄν, Luk.9:5; ὡς ἄν, Rom.15:24 (M, Pr. 167);

__(β) with aor. ὃς ἄν, Mat.5:21, 22, 31; ἕως ἄν, until, Mat.2:13, Mrk.6:10, al.; ὡς ἄν, as soon as (M, Pr. 167), 1Co.11:34, Php.2:23. On the frequently use of ἐάν for ἄν with the foregoing words, see: ἐάν;

__(ii) in late Gk. when some actual fact is spoken of, with indic.: ὅταν (which see); ὅπου ἄν, Mrk.6:56 (M, Pr. 168); καθότι ἄν, Act.2:45 4:35; ὡς ἄν, 1Co.12:2.

__3. in iterative construction, with imperfect and aor. indic. (M, Pr. 167): Act.2:45 4:35, 1Co.12:2.

__4. with optative, giving a potential sense to a question or wish: Act.8:31 26:29.

__5. Elliptical constructions: εἰ μή τι ἄν (M, Pr. 169), 1Co.7:5; ὡς ἄν, with inf. as it were (op. cit. 167), 2Co.10:9.

(AS)