Definition of optative in English:
optative
adjective ɒpˈteɪtɪvˈɒptətɪvˈɑptədɪv
Grammar Relating to or denoting a mood of verbs in Greek and certain other languages, expressing a wish, equivalent in meaning to English let's or if only.
Example sentencesExamples
- The second sentence transforms the first from an indicative statement of fact into something more like an optative expression of desire.
- The old neoplatonic shadow of what Emerson in ‘The Transcendentalist’ calls an ‘optative mood,’ reconciling textual particular and idealist consciousness, is not as far away here as one might initially imagine.
- This is not simply to avoid criticisms of judgment speech by translating it from the indicative to the optative mood.
noun ɒpˈteɪtɪvˈɒptətɪvˈɑptədɪv
Grammar 1A verb in the optative mood.
Example sentencesExamples
- It is difficult not to grin, if Ptolemaic land-leases or Greek optatives or German monographs make you giddy.
- 1.1the optative The optative mood.
Derivatives
adverb
Grammar Of forms having a modal sense, how many are used subjunctively and how many optatively?
Example sentencesExamples
- It can also be rendered optatively as in our English versions.
Origin
Mid 16th century: from French optatif, -ive, from late Latin optativus, from optat- 'chosen', from the verb optare (see opt).
Definition of optative in US English:
optative
adjectiveˈäptədivˈɑptədɪv
Grammar Relating to or denoting a mood of verbs in Greek and other languages, expressing a wish, equivalent to English expressions if only.
Example sentencesExamples
- The old neoplatonic shadow of what Emerson in ‘The Transcendentalist’ calls an ‘optative mood,’ reconciling textual particular and idealist consciousness, is not as far away here as one might initially imagine.
- The second sentence transforms the first from an indicative statement of fact into something more like an optative expression of desire.
- This is not simply to avoid criticisms of judgment speech by translating it from the indicative to the optative mood.
nounˈäptədivˈɑptədɪv
Grammar 1A verb in the optative mood.
Example sentencesExamples
- It is difficult not to grin, if Ptolemaic land-leases or Greek optatives or German monographs make you giddy.
- 1.1the optative The optative mood.
Origin
Mid 16th century: from French optatif, -ive, from late Latin optativus, from optat- ‘chosen’, from the verb optare (see opt).