And I saw Tityos, son of glorious Gaea, lying on the ground. Over nine roods he stretched, and two vultures sat, one on either side, and tore his liver, plunging their beaks into his bowels, nor could he beat them off with his hands.
— The Odyssey
This nor is not like not . . . either.
This nor is similar to never could he beat them off. . . .
Is this correct? Is this an archaic use?
Best Answer
It may be a little archaic, but it's perfectly comprehensible. Unlike the other respondents, I do not believe an implied previous phrase is required; it is simply and he could not beat them off... together with the rule that `and not =nor' (and possibly a reluctance to have too many ands in a sentence).
The Oxford English Dictionary agrees: