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optative

op·ta·tive
O o

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [op-tuh-tiv]
    • /ˈɒp tə tɪv/
    • /ˈɒp.tə.tɪv/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [op-tuh-tiv]
    • /ˈɒp tə tɪv/

Definitions of optative word

  • adjective optative designating or pertaining to a verb mood, as in Greek, that has among its functions the expression of a wish, as Greek íoimen “may we go, we wish we might go.”. 1
  • noun optative the optative mood. 1
  • noun optative a verb in the optative mood. 1
  • noun optative Relating to or denoting a mood of verbs in Greek and other languages, expressing a wish, equivalent to English expressions if only. 1
  • adjective optative indicating or expressing choice, preference, or wish 0
  • adjective optative denoting a mood of verbs in Greek, Sanskrit, etc, expressing a wish 0

Information block about the term

Origin of optative

First appearance:

before 1520
One of the 28% oldest English words
1520-30; < Late Latin optātīvus, equivalent to Latin optāt(us) (past participle of optāre; see opt, -ate1) + -īvus -ive

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Optative

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

optative popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 70% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
According to our data about 67% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

optative usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Top questions with optative

  • what is optative sentence?

See also

Matching words

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