necnĕ, adv. [neque-ne], or not, is used in the second half of a disjunctive interrogation, corresponding to -ne or utrum, and also without a corresp interrog, particle in the first half (usually in indirect interrogations, and without repeating the verb).
I In indirect interrogations.
A Without a verb: quaero, potueritne Roscius ex societate partem suam petere necne, Cic. Rosc. Com. 17, 52: jam dudum ego erro, qui quaeram, utrum emeris necne, id. Verr. 2, 4, 16, § 35: utrum proelium committi ex usu esset necne, Caes. B. G. 1, 50: nunc habeam necne, incertum est, Ter. Heaut. 95: posset agi lege necne pauci quondam sciebant, Cic. Mur. 11, 25: accipiat enim actionem necne ad eventum pertinet, Quint. 3, 6, 73; cf. id. 1, 4, 21; and Spald. on 7, 3, 30: idcirco quidam, comoedia necne poëma Esset, quaesivere, Hor. S. 1, 4, 45.—
B With a verb: Aristo dubitat omnino, deus animans necne sit, Cic. N. D. 1, 14, 37: hoc doce doleam necne doleam nihil interesse, id. Tusc. 2, 12, 29: fiat necne fiat, id quaeritur, id. Div. 1, 39, 86: quaeritur sintne di necne sint, id. N. D. 1, 22, 61: di utrum sint necne sint, quaeritur, id. ib. 3, 7, 17.—
II In a direct interrogation (rare): sunt haec tua verba necne? Cic. Tusc. 3, 18, 41.