I. Introducing an alternative question (direct or indirect), with an beginning the second clause (v. an); in Engl. represented in direct questions simply by the tone of voice, and in indirect questions by whether.
A. In a direct interrogation.
1. With ne,
(α).
Attached to the emphatic word of the first clause: “utrum tu masne an femina es?” Plaut. Rud. 1, 2, 16: Ba. Simulato me amare. Pi. Utrum ego istoc jocon' assimulem, an serio, id. Bacch. 1, 1, 42: “utrum studione id sibi habet an laudi putat Fore?” Ter. Ad. 3, 3, 28: “utrum igitur tandem perspicuisne dubia aperiuntur an dubiis perspicua tolluntur?” Cic. Fin. 4, 24, 67: “utrum censes illum tuamne de se orationem libentius auditurum fuisse an meam?” id. ib. 2, 19, 60.—
(β).
With ne attached to utrum, utrumne ... an (poet. and post-Aug.): utrumne jussi persequemur otium ... An hunc laborem, etc. Hor. Epod. 1, 7: “utrumne salvum eum nolet orator, an? etc.,” Quint. 12, 1, 40: “utrumne igitur ego sum, Domiti, exemplo gravis an tu, qui, etc.,” Plin. 17, 1, 1, § 4.—
(γ).
With ne repeated in place of an (very rare): sed utrum terraene motus, sonitusne inferum Pervasit auris? Att. ap. Prisc. 6, p. 680 P. (Trag. Rel. v. 479 Rib.).—
2. Without ne, utrum ... an (class.): “utrum pro ancillā me habes, an pro filiā?” Plaut. Pers. 3, 1, 13: “utrum hac me feriam, an ab laevā, latus?” id. Cist. 3, 13: “sed utrum nunc tu coelibem ted esse mavis liberum, an maritum servom, etc.,” id. Cas. 2, 4, 11: “utrum pro dimidiā parte, an pro totā societate? Utrum pro me an pro me et pro te?” Cic. Rosc. Com. 11, 32: “utrum ea vestra an nostra culpa est?” id. Ac. 2, 29, 95; id. Tusc. 1, 25, 61.—
B. In an indirect interrogation.
1. With ne attached,
(α).
To the emphatic word of the first clause: sed utrum strictimne attonsurum dicam esse an per pectinem Nescio, Plaut. Capt. 2, 1, 18: “videndum'st primum utrum eae velintne an non velint,” id. Most. 3, 1, 151: “cum animo depugnat suo, Utrum itane esse ma. velit ... an ita potius,” id. Trin. 2, 2, 26; id. Ps. 2, 4, 19; id. Bacch. 3, 4, 1: de istac rogas Virgine? Py. Ita, utrum praedicemne an taceam? Ter. Eun. 4, 4, 53: “ea res nunc in discrimine versatur, utrum possitne se parsimonia defendere, an, etc.,” Cic. Quint. 30, 92: “videamus, utrum ea fortuitane sint an eo statu, quo, etc.,” id. N. D. 2, 34, 87; id. Phil. 2, 12, 30; cf.: “est ... illa distinctio, utrum ... an ... et utrum illudne ... an, etc.,” id. Tusc. 4, 27, 59.—
(β).
With ne attached to utrum; utrumne ... an (poet. and post-Aug.): “nec quidquam differre utrumne in pulvere ... ludas opus, an meretricis amore Sollicitus plores,” Hor. S. 2, 3, 251: “utrumne Divitiis homines an sint virtute beati,” id. ib. 2, 6, 73: “in eo plures dissenserunt, utrumne hae partes essent rhetorices, an ejusdem opera, an elementa,” Quint. 3, 3, 13: “Dareus dubitaverat utrumne circa Mesopotamiam subsisteret, an interiora regna sui peteret,” Curt. 4, 9, 1; Col. 11, 1, 50; Suet. Caes. 80; Tac. Or. 37.—
(γ).
With ne attached to an; utrum ... anne: “me jussit percontarier utrum aurum reddat anne eat secum simul,” Plaut. Bacch. 4, 1, 4: “est quaerendumque utrum una species sit earum anne plures,” Cic. Or. 61, 206: “id autem utrum illi sentiant anne simulent, tu intelleges,” id. Att. 12, 51, 2; cf. uter, I. B. 4, fin.—
2. Without ne: “quid tu, malum, curas, Utrum crudum an coctum edim,” Plaut. Aul. 3, 2, 16: “facite indicium, utrum hac an illac iter institerit,” id. Cist. 4, 2, 11: “utrum stultitiā facere ego hunc an malitiā Dicam, incertus sum,” Ter. Phorm. 4, 3, 54: “id utrum Romano more locutus sit, an, quomodo Stoici dicunt, postea videro,” Cic. Fam. 7, 16, 3: “permultum interest, utrum perturbatione aliquā animi, an consulto fiat injuria,” id. Off. 1, 8, 27: “quid interest utrum hoc feceris, an, etc.,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 75, § 174; id. Rosc. Com. 3, 9: “multum interest, utrum laus imminuatur, an salus deseratur,” id. Fam. 1, 7, 8: quomodo transierit, utrum rate an piscatorio navigio, nemo sciebat, Cael. ap. Quint. 6, 3, 41; Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 8; Cat. 17, 21.—
3. With necne (rarely ne) in place of the second clause with an; utrum ... necne, whether ... or not: “jam dudum ego erro, qui quaeram, utrum emeris necne,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 16, § 35: “di utrum sint necne sint quaeritur,” id. N. D. 3, 7, 17: “utrum proelium committi ex usu esset necne,” Caes. B. G. 1, 50: deliberent, utrum traiciant legiones necne ... et Brutum arcessant necne, et mihi stipendium dent an decernant, Brut. ap. Cic. Fam. 11, 26; Liv. 39, 48, 2.—So, utrum ... ne: “cum interrogaretur, utrum pluris patrem matremne faceret? matrem inquit,” Nep. Iphic. 3, 4.—
II. Introducing a disjunctive question with more than two members, with an beginning each clause after the first.
A. A direct question: “utrum hoc tu parum commeministi, an ego non satis intellexi, an mutasti sententiam?” Cic. Att. 9, 2: “utrum hoc signum cupiditatis tuae an tropaeum necessitudinis an amoris indicium esse voluisti?” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 47, § 115; 2, 3, 36, § 83: “utrum hostem an vos an fortunam utriusque populi ignoratis?” Liv. 21, 10, 6; 6, 7, 3: “utrum major ... an majores ... an aetas ... an cum Karthaginiensi, etc.,” id. 28, 43, 12.—
B. An indirect question: “in quo (convivio) nemo potest dicere utrum ille plus biberit an vomuerit an effuderit,” Cic. Pis. 10, 22: “utrum admonitus an temptatus an sine duce ullo ... nescio,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 41, § 105.—
III. Introducing a single question without an expressed alternative (cf. the similar use of an).
a. In a direct interrogation: “utrum enim in clarissimis est civibus is, quem judicatum hic duxit Hermippus?” Cic. Fl. 19, 45: “utrum igitur hactenus satis est?” id. Top. 4, 25: “utrum majores vestri omnium magnarum rerum et principia exorti ab diis sunt et finem eum statuerunt?” Liv. 45, 39, 10.—
b. In an indirect interrogation: “neque utrum ex hoc saltu damni salvum scio eliciam foras,” Plaut. Men. 5, 6, 30: “an hoc dicere audebis, utrum de te aratores, utrum denique Siculi universi bene existiment, ad rem id non pertinere?” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 69, § 167: Nep. Eum. 6, 1.—With the interrog. particle nam: “cum percontatus esset, utrumnam Patris universa classis in portu stare posset,” Liv. 37, 17, 10 dub. Weissenb. ad loc. (Hertz and Madv. possetne).
