denoting a mood of verbs used in giving orders, making requests, etc. In English the verb root without any inflections is the usual form, as for example leave in Leave me alone
noun
4.
something that is urgent or essential
5.
an order or command
6. grammar
a.
the imperative mood
b.
a verb in this mood
Derived forms
imperatively (imˈperatively)
adverb
imperativeness (imˈperativeness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Late Latin imperātīvus, from Latin imperāre to command
imperatival in American English
(imˌperəˈtaivəl)
adjective
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the grammatical imperative
Derived forms
imperativally
adverb
Word origin
[1870–75; imperative + -al1]This word is first recorded in the period 1870–75. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: asymmetric, billing, giveaway, onshore, washout