Definition of Imperative

1. Noun. A mood that expresses an intention to influence the listener's behavior.

Exact synonyms: Imperative Form, Imperative Mood, Jussive Mood
Generic synonyms: Modality, Mode, Mood

2. Adjective. Requiring attention or action. "Requests that grew more and more imperative"

3. Noun. Some duty that is essential and urgent.
Generic synonyms: Duty, Obligation, Responsibility

4. Adjective. Relating to verbs in the imperative mood.
Category relationships: Grammar
Partainyms: Imperative Mood

Definition of Imperative

1. a. Expressive of command; containing positive command; authoritatively or absolutely directive; commanding; authoritative; as, imperative orders.

2. n. The imperative mood; also, a verb in the imperative mood.

Definition of Imperative

1. Noun. (uncountable grammar) The grammatical mood expressing an order (see jussive). In English, the imperative form of a verb is the same as that of the bare infinitive. ¹

2. Noun. (countable grammar) A verb in imperative mood. ¹

3. Noun. An essential action, a must: something which is imperative. ¹

4. Adjective. essential ¹

5. Adjective. (computing theory) Having a semantics that incorporates mutable variables. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Imperative

1. [n -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Imperative

impenitently
impenitents
impennate
impenned
impennes
impenning
impennous
impens
impentamine
impeople
impeopled
impeoples
impeopling
imperate
imperatival
imperative (current term)
imperative conception
imperative language
imperative mood
imperative moods
imperatively
imperativeness
imperatives
imperativist
imperativists
imperator
imperatorial
imperatorian
imperators
imperatory

Literary usage of Imperative

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation by Jeremy Bentham (1907)
"Instance, Let no man steal; and, Let the judge cause whoever is convicted of stealing to be hanged. They might be styled; the former, a simply imperative ..."

2. Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar by Wilhelm Gesenius (1859)
"OF THE imperative. 1. The chief form of the imperative ... The proper passive conjugations have no imperative ;t but the reflexives, as Niphal and ..."

3. The German Language: Outlines of Its Development by Tobias Johann Casjen Diekhoff (1914)
"Particularly in imperative clauses with concessive force the indicative of mogen ... Also miissen occurs in mild imperative, and especially in prohibitory ..."

4. Lectures on jurisprudence or the philosophy of positive law by John Austin (1885)
"There are laws, it may be said, which merely create rights: And, seeing that every command imposes a duty, laws of this nature are not imperative. ..."

5. Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology: Including Many of the Principal by James Mark Baldwin (1901)
"Examples of imperative ideas which affect both thought and action are : agoraphobia, ... Rather few of the imperative ideas are purely intellectual, ..."

6. Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges: Founded on by Joseph Henry Allen, James Bradstreet Greenough (1903)
"The imperative is used in. Commands and Entreaties : — consulite ... The third person of the imperative is antiquated or poetic ..."

7. A Latin Grammar for the Use of Schools by Johan Nikolai Madvig (1856)
"The imperative expresses a request, a command, a rule, or an exhortation. The present imperative is employed, when the request, the command, &c. is stated ..."

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