放たれん

[eeky]

Hi,

平地はいまや弓と矢が林立し、いまにも放たれんとしていた。

What is 放たれん?

 

[mdchachi]

Same as 放たれない I think. (放つ→放たれる→放たれない→放たれん)

 

[eeky]

I did consider that actually, but rejected it as it seems to make no sense. If it does make sense, could you explain how?

 

[eeky]

Update: I just thought to look up んとする in the dictionary, which I had not done before, and it is listed as a set expression meaning "to be just about to". I don't know what the ん is grammatically; perhaps someone can explain?

 

[Toritoribe]

ん is the n-euphonic change of a classical auxiliary verb for volition/presumption む. You can think it as 放たれようとしていた in modern Japanese. (Actually, this む is the etymology of う/よう, which is the conjugation suffix of the volitional form.)

 

[eeky]

Thanks Toritorobe. I remember this now. It has occurred in a previous question of mine, I'm pretty sure.

 

[Toritoribe]

Yeah, in the following thread.

与えられん / 蘇らせん / 間 | Japan Forum

 

[eeky]

Also there is this usage, which seems to be the same kind of deal:

降り出さん / 降り出そうだ / おこりたくなる / 別の実験では... | Japan Forum

 

[Toritoribe]

Yes, that's right. I can't fix the mojibake in the thread now, though.

 

[Toritoribe]

I fixed the mojibake in the site.