What is "optative"

Optative \Op"ta*tive\, a. [L. optativus: cf. F. optatif.] Expressing desire or wish.
--Fuller.

Optative mood (Gram.), that mood or form of a verb, as in Greek, Sanskrit, etc., in which a wish or desire is expressed.

Optative \Op"ta*tive\, n. [Cf. F. optatif.]

1. Something to be desired. [R.]
   --Bacon.

2. (Gram.) The optative mood; also, a verb in the optative mood.

in reference to grammatical mood expressing wish or desire, 1520s, from Middle French optatif (15c.), from Late Latin optativus, from Latin optatus "wished, desired, longed for," past participle of optare "to choose, wish, desire" (see option).

a. 1 expressing a wish or a choice. 2 (context grammar English) related or pertaining to the optative mood. n. 1 (context grammar English) a mood of verb found in some languages (e.g. Old Prussian, Ancient Greek), used to express a wish. English has no inflexional optative mood, but it has modal verbs like "might" and "may" that express possibility. 2 (context grammar English) a verb or expression in the optative mood.

1. adj. indicating an option or wish

2. relating to a mood of verbs in some languages; "optative verb endings"

n. a mood (as in Greek or Sanskrit) that expresses a wish or hope; expressed in English by modal verbs [syn: optative mood]

The optative mood, from Ancient Greek "(inflection) for wishing" and Latin "(way) of wishing", is a grammatical mood of the Ancient Greek verb, named for its use as a way to express wishes. It is also used to express potentiality and to replace other moods in dependent clauses under past-tense main verbs.