subjunctive Hear it!

subjunctive definition

sub·junc·tive (səb juŋktiv)

adjective

Gram. designating or of the mood of a verb that is used to express supposition, desire, hypothesis, possibility, etc., rather than to state an actual fact (Ex.: the mood of were in “if I were you”)

Etymology: LL subjunctivus < L subjunctus, pp. of subjungere, to subjoin

noun

  1. the subjunctive mood
  2. a verb in this mood

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.
Related Discussions (8)
TopicRepliesLatest Post
Subjunctive...Sorry372 months ago
Subjunctive again62 months ago
'were' used as subjunctive?252 months ago
Subjunctive1014 months ago
Subjunctive Mood174 months ago

See all 8 discussions · Browse Forums