Definitions for optativeˈɒp tə tɪv
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
op•ta•tiveˈɒp tə tɪv(adj.)
of or pertaining to a verb mood, as in Greek, used to express a wish or desire.
Category: Grammar
(n.)the optative mood.
Category: Grammar
a verb in the optative mood.
Category: Grammar
Origin of optative:
1520–30; < LL optātīvus= L optāt(us) (ptp. of optāre; see opt , -ate1) +-īvus -ive
op′ta•tive•ly(adv.)
Princeton's WordNet
optative mood, optative(adj)
a mood (as in Greek or Sanskrit) that expresses a wish or hope; expressed in English by modal verbs
optative(adj)
indicating an option or wish
optative(adj)
relating to a mood of verbs in some languages
"optative verb endings"
Wiktionary
optative(Noun)
a mood of verbs found in some languages (e.g. Old Prussian, Ancient Greek), used to express a wish. English has no inflexional optative mood, but it has modal verbs like "might" and "may" that express possibility.
optative(Noun)
a verb or expression in the optative mood.
optative(Adjective)
expressing a wish or a choice.
optative(Adjective)
related or pertaining to the optative mood.
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