[1958.] vereor nē is often equivalent to I rather think, and vereor ut to hardly. vidē (videāmus, videndum est) nē, and similar expressions, are sometimes used for vereor nē, to introduce something conjectured rather than proved: as,
vereor nē barbarōrum rēx fuerit, RP. 1, 58, I rather think he was king over savages. vidē nē mea coniectūra multō sit vērior, Clu. 97, I rather think my conjecture is in better keeping with the facts.
[1959.] Other constructions with expressions of fear are: (a.) Indirect question. (b.) Accusative with infinitive. (c.) Complementary infinitive: as,
([a.]) erī semper lēnitās verēbar quorsum ēvāderet, T. Andr. 175, I was afraid how master’s always gentleness would end. timeō quid sit, T. Hau. 620, I have my fears what it may be. timeō quid rērum gesserim, Pl. MG. 397, I am concerned to think what capers I have cut. metuō quid agam, T. Hau. 720, I’m scared and know not what to do ([1731]). (b.) ego mē cupiditātis rēgnī crīmen subitūrum timērem? L. 2, 7, 9, was I to fear being charged with aspiring to a throne? (c.) vereor cōram in ōs tē laudāre, T. Ad. 269, I am afraid to disgrace you with praise to the face ([2168]).
[1960.] (3.) The subjunctive with nē is used in clauses which serve to complete the sense of verbs of avoiding, hindering, and resisting.
Such are: avoiding: caveō, mē ēripiō, vītō. hindering: intercēdō, interdīcō, recūsō, repugnō, temperō; also the following which often have quōminus ([1977]): dēterreō, impediō, obsistō, obstō, officiō, prohibeō, teneō. resisting: resistō, repugnō, recūsō; with these last often quōminus. Some of the above verbs when preceded by a negative also take quīn ([1986]); prohibeō and impediō have also the accusative with the infinitive ([2203]). For the subjunctive coordinated with cavē̆, see [1711].
nē quid eīs noceātur neu quis invītus sacrāmentum dīcere cōgātur ā Caesare cavētur, Caes. C. 1, 86, 4, all precaution is taken by Caesar that no harm be done them, and that nobody be compelled to take the oath against his will. per eōs, nē causam dīceret, sē ēripuit, 1, 4, 2, thanks to this display of retainers he succeeded in avoiding trial. plūra nē scrībam, dolōre impedior, Att. 11, 13, 5, grief prevents me from writing more. nē qua sibī̆ statua pōnerētur restitit, N. 25, 3, 2, he objected to having a statue erected in his honour.
II. Pure Final Clauses.
[1961.] The subjunctive with ut or nē is used to denote the purpose of the main action.