Definitions for infinitive
ɪnˈfɪn ɪ tɪvin·fini·tive

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. infinitivenoun

   the uninflected form of the verb

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. infinitivenoun

   The uninflected form of a verb. In English, this is usually formed with the verb stem preceded by 'to'. e.g. 'to sit'

2. infinitivenoun

   A verbal noun formed from the infinitive of a verb

3. infinitiveadjective

   Formed with the infinitive

4. Etymology: From Late Latin infinitivus, from infinitus

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Infinitiveadjective

   In grammar, the infinitive affirms, or intimates the intention of affirming, which is one use of the indicative; but then it does not do it absolutely. John Clarke Lat. Gram.

   Etymology: infinitif, Fr. infinitivus, Latin.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Infinitive

   Infinitive (abbreviated INF) is a linguistics term for certain verb forms existing in many languages, most often used as non-finite verbs. As with many linguistic concepts, there is not a single definition applicable to all languages. The is derived from Late Latin [modus] infinitivus, a derivative of infinitus meaning "unlimited". In traditional descriptions of English, the infinitive is the basic dictionary form of a verb when used non-finitely, with or without the particle to. Thus to go is an infinitive, as is go in a sentence like "I must go there" (but not in "I go there", where it is a finite verb). The form without to is called the bare infinitive, and the form with to is called the full infinitive or to-infinitive. In many other languages the infinitive is a distinct single word, often with a characteristic inflective ending, like cantar ("[to] sing") in Portuguese, morir ("[to] die") in Spanish, manger ("[to] eat") in French, portare ("[to] carry") in Latin and Italian, lieben ("[to] love") in German, читать (chitat', "[to] read") in Russian, etc. However, some languages have no infinitive forms. Many Native American languages, Arabic, Asian languages such as Japanese, and some languages in Africa and Australia do not have direct equivalents to infinitives or verbal nouns. Instead, they use finite verb forms in ordinary clauses or various special constructions. Being a verb, an infinitive may take objects and other complements and modifiers to form a verb phrase (called an infinitive phrase). Like other non-finite verb forms (like participles, converbs, gerunds and gerundives), infinitives do not generally have an expressed subject; thus an infinitive verb phrase also constitutes a complete non-finite clause, called an infinitive (infinitival) clause. Such phrases or clauses may play a variety of roles within sentences, often being nouns (for example being the subject of a sentence or being a complement of another verb), and sometimes being adverbs or other types of modifier. Many verb forms known as infinitives differ from gerunds (verbal nouns) in that they do not inflect for case or occur in adpositional phrases. Instead, infinitives often originate in earlier inflectional forms of verbal nouns. Unlike finite verbs, infinitives are not usually inflected for tense, person, etc. either, although some degree of inflection sometimes occurs; for example Latin has distinct active and passive infinitives.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. infinitive

   An infinitive is the base form of a verb, typically preceded by the word 'to', and is used in English Grammar. It is often used to express an action or state without reference to any subject, tense, or number. For example, 'to run', 'to eat', or 'to think'. Infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Infinitivenoun

   unlimited; not bounded or restricted; undefined

2. Infinitivenoun

   an infinitive form of the verb; a verb in the infinitive mood; the infinitive mood

3. Infinitiveadverb

   in the manner of an infinitive mood

4. Etymology: [L. infinitivus: cf. F. infinitif. See Infinite.]

WikidataRate this definition:4.5 / 2 votes

1. Infinitive

   Infinitive is a grammatical term used to refer to certain verb forms that exist in many languages. As with many linguistic concepts, there is not a single definition applicable to all languages. The word is derived from Late Latin infinitivus, a derivative of infinitus meaning "infinite". Infinitives are used mostly as non-finite verbs. In traditional descriptions of English, the infinitive is the basic dictionary form of a verb when used non-finitely, with or without the particle to. Thus to go is an infinitive, as is go in a sentence like "I must go there". The form without to is called the bare infinitive, and the form with to is called the full infinitive or to-infinitive. In many other languages the infinitive is a single word, often with a characteristic inflective ending, such as manger in French, portare in Latin, lieben in German, etc. However some languages do not have any forms identifiable as infinitives. Many Native American languages and some languages in Africa and Australia do not have direct equivalents to infinitives or verbal nouns; in their place they use finite verb forms in ordinary clauses or various special constructions.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Infinitive

   in-fin′it-iv, adj. (lit.) unlimited, unrestricted: (gram.) the mood of the verb which expresses the idea without person or number.—adj. Infinitī′val.—adv. Infin′itively. [Fr.,—L. infinitivus.]

Matched Categories

1. • Verb

How to pronounce infinitive?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say infinitive in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of infinitive in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of infinitive in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of infinitive in a Sentence

1. Raymond Chandler:

   Would you convey my compliments to the purist who reads your proofs and tell him or her that I write in a sort of broken-down patois which is something like the way a Swiss waiter talks, and that when I split an infinitive, God damn it, I split it so it will stay split, and when I interrupt the velvety smoothness of my more or less literate syntax with a few sudden words of bar-room vernacular, that is done with the eyes wide open and the mind relaxed but attentive.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=infinitive
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Infinitive
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=infinitive
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinitive
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infinitive
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=infinitive
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=infinitive