οὐκοῦν, Dor. οὐκῶν, Adv., composed, like οὔκουν, of οὐκ and οὖν, but differing in meaning and accent, cf. A.D. Conj. 257.18s qq., Hdn.Gr. 1.516, Phryn. PS p.98B.
I in questions, inviting assent to an inference, or to an addition to what has already received assent, οὐκοῦν δοκεῖ σοι..; you think then, do you not, that.. ? X. Cyr. 2.4.15, Mem. 1.4.5, cf. 4.2.20, Pl. Prt. 332b, 360b -d, Cra. 416c, etc.: with hortatory subj., οὐκοῦν καὶ ἄλλους σε φῶμεν δυνατὸν εἶναι ποιεῖν (sc. ῥήτορας ἀγαθούς); Id. Grg. 449b: folld. by οὐ when a neg. answer is invited, οὐκοῦν οὐκ ἂν εἴη τὸ μὴ λυπεῖσθαί ποτε ταὐτὸν τῷ χαίρειν; Id. Phlb. 43d, cf. Phd. 105e; οὐκοῦν οὐδ’ ἂν εἷς ἀντείποι; D. 16.4.
II
1. in affirm. sentences, surely then, οὐκοῦν, εἰ ταῦτα ἀληθῆ, πολλὴ ἐλπὶς ἀφικομένῳ οἷ ἐγὼ πορεύομαι Pl. Phd. 67b: with subj. or imper., οὐκοῦν διδάσκωμεν αὐτόν, ἀλλὰ μὴ λοιδορῶμεν let us teach him, then, Id. La. 195a; οὐκοῦν.. ἱκανῶς ἐχέτω let this then suffice, Id. Phdr. 274b, cf. 278b, Luc. DMort. 23.3; οὐκοῦν ἂν ἤδη.. λέγοι Ar. Pax 43: with a prohibition, οὐκοῦν μὴ.. αὐτομολήσῃς Aeschin. 1.159; οὐκοῦν ὑπόλοιπον δουλεύειν slavery, then, is the only alternative, D. 8.59.
2. in replies, very well, yes, ἴωμεν.. Answ. οὐκοῦν ἐπειδὰν πνεῦμα τοὐκ πρῴρας ἀνῇ, τότε στελοῦμεν S. Ph. 639; ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς. Answ. οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι Id. Ant. 91; ἥξει γὰρ αὐτά, κἂν ἐγὼ σιγῇ στέγω. Answ. οὐκοῦν ἅ γ’ ἥξει καὶ σὲ χρὴ λέγειν ἐμοί Id. OT 342; ἀπόλωλας, ὦ κακόδαιμον. Answ. οὐκοῦν, ἢν λάχω Ar. Pax 364; ἴθι δὴ σκεψώμεθα.. Answ. οὐκοῦν χρή yes, let us do so, Pl. Plt. 289d, cf. 287c, Sph. 254d; surely, οὐκοῦν τρύγοιπος ταῦτα πάντ’ ἰάσεται Ar. Pl. 1087; οὐκοῦν κλεινὴ καὶ ἔπαινον ἔχουσ’.. ἀπέρχῃ S. Ant. 817 (anap.).
G3766 — οὐκοῦν
(from οὐκ and οὖν), adverb, not therefore; and since a speaker often introduces in this way his own opinion (see Krüger, as below), the particle is used affirmatively, therefore, then, the force of the negative disappearing. Hence, the saying of Pilate οὐκοῦν βασιλεύς εἰ σύ must be taken affirmatively: "then (since thou speakest of thy βασιλεία) thou art a king!" (German alsobistdudocheinKönig!), [Joh 18:37] (cf. Buttmann, 249 (214)); but it is better to write οὐκοῦν, so that Pilate, arguing from the words of Christ, asks, not without irony, art thou not a king then? or in any case, thou art a king, art thou not? cf. Winer's Grammar, 512 (477). The difference between οὐκοῦν and οὐκοῦν is differently stated by different writers; cf. Herm. ad Vig., p. 792ff; Krüger, § 69, 51, 1 and 2; Kühner, § 508, 5 ii., p. 715ff, also the 3rd excurs. appended to his edition of Xenophon, memor.; (Bäumlein, Partikeln, pp. 191-198).