optative
/ˈɑptətɪv/
adjective
- Relating to or expressing a wish or desire.
- The optative form of the verb shows a wish for something to happen.
- His optative statement revealed his deep longing for peace.
- In some languages, the optative mood is used to express hopes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
noun
- A grammatical form or construction that expresses a wish or desire.
- Ancient Greek has a special optative for wishes.
- Linguists study the optative to understand how languages express desire.
- The optative is less common in modern English than in older texts.