The Collaborative International Dictionary
Subjunctive \Sub*junc"tive\, a. [L. subjunctivus, fr. subjungere, subjunctum, to subjoin: cf. F. subjonctif. See Subjoin.] Subjoined or added to something before said or written.
Subjunctive mood (Gram.), that form of a verb which express
the action or state not as a fact, but only as a
conception of the mind still contingent and dependent. It
is commonly subjoined, or added as subordinate, to some
other verb, and in English is often connected with it by
if, that, though, lest, unless, except, until, etc., as in
the following sentence: ``If there were no honey, they
[bees] would have no object in visiting the flower.''
--Lubbock. In some languages, as in Latin and Greek, the
subjunctive is often independent of any other verb, being
used in wishes, commands, exhortations, etc.
Wiktionary
n. (context grammar English) mood#Etymology_2 expressing an action or state which is hypothetical or anticipated rather than actual, including wishes and commands.
WordNet
n. a mood that represent an act or state (not as a fact but) as contingent or possible [syn: subjunctive]
Wikipedia
The subjunctive is a grammatical mood found in many languages. Subjunctive forms of verbs are typically used to express various states of unreality such as wish, emotion, possibility, judgment, opinion, obligation, or action that has not yet occurred; the precise situations in which they are used vary from language to language. The subjunctive is an irrealis mood (one that does not refer directly to what is necessarily real) – it is often contrasted with the indicative, which is a realis mood.
Subjunctives occur most often, although not exclusively, in subordinate clauses, particularly that-clauses. Examples of the subjunctive in English are found in the sentences "I suggest that you be careful" and "It is important that she stay by your side." (The corresponding indicative forms of the verbs in bold would be are and stays.)
Subjunctive may be denoted by the glossing abbreviation or . It is sometimes referred to as the conjunctive mood, as it is mostly found in clauses introduced by a conjunction.
Usage examples of "subjunctive mood".
Imagine my surprise when, having learned to say it, I found that there were syntax, conjunctions, parts of speech, nouns, verbs, tense, agreement, and the subjunctive mood.
As you may recall, the subjunctive mood is required when writing of an event or an act not as fact but as contingent or possibly viewed emotionally, as with doubt or desire.
In English grammar, when a statement is in obvious contradiction to reality, the subjunctive mood requires a plural verb after a singular noun or pronoun in conditional clauses beginning with if, but also in subordinate clauses following verbs like wish.