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Adjective: optative  óp-tu-tiv
  1. Indicating an option or wish
    "In some languages, the optative mood expresses a wish or hope"
     
  2. (grammar) relating to a mood of verbs in some languages
    "optative verb endings"
Noun: optative  óp-tu-tiv
  1. (Sanskrit) a mood (as in Greek or Sanskrit) that expresses a wish or hope; expressed in English by modal verbs
    "In Ancient Greek, 'May he live!' would use the optative mood";
    - optative mood

Derived forms: optatives

Type of: modality, mode, mood

Encyclopedia: Optative