Middle English Dictionary Entry
imperā̆tī̆f adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | imperā̆tī̆f adj. |
| Etymology | OF & L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Gram. Of mood: imperative; (b) of language: smacking of command.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Peace R.Lin.in Lin.RS 30 ()4/172 : How knos þu þe imperatiue mod?
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)110 : How many moodes buther?..Indicatyf, jmperatyf, optatyf, coniunctyf, and infinityf..How knowyste imperatyf moode? That at byddyth or commaundeth, as 'go hens, vade hinc'.
- a1500 Donatus (1) (StJ-C F.26)1024 : Qwerby knowyst inperatyf mood? ffor it preyith, byddyth, or comawndyth.
- a1500 Add.37075 Accedence (Add 37075)47/130 : How know ye the imperatyff mode? For he byddith or commandith.
b
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)59.201 (v.1:p.360) : Wordis .. imperatyfe or of commanundement he wolde nat han approprid, neither to hym ner to othir bisshops, ner pleynly to no clerkis, as .. 'that worde of commaundement I prey you hensforward remevid fro myn heryng, for .. in maners and condicions ye be my fadris.'