desiderative

[ dih-sid-er-uh-tiv, -uh-rey-tiv ]

adjective

1. having or expressing desire.
2. Grammar. (of a verb derived from another verb) expressing desire to perform the action denoted by the underlying verb, as Sanskrit pi-patiṣ-ati “he wishes to fly” from pát-ati, “he flies.”

noun

1. Grammar. a desiderative verb.

desiderative

/ dɪˈzɪdərətɪv /

adjective

1. feeling or expressing desire
2. (in certain languages, of a verb) related in form to another verb and expressing the subject's desire or intention to perform the act denoted by the other verb

noun

1. a desiderative verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of desiderative¹

From the Late Latin word dēsīderātīvus, dating back to 1545–55. See desiderate, -ive

Example Sentences

There are several moods, most not native in English – the desiderative, the optative, and the propositive – which may offer a solution.

From The Guardian

How late some of these new formations were may be seen in Greek, where the Homeric poems are still ignorant of the weak future passive, the optative future, and the aspirated perfect, and where the strong future passive occurs but once and the desiderative but twice.

From Project Gutenberg

Desid′erative, implying desire, as in desiderative verb.—n.

From Project Gutenberg

Noteworthy is the desiderative compound formed by adding the root cāh, wish, to the dative of a verbal noun.

From Project Gutenberg

Luxus denotes luxury as an act or as a condition, and sometimes even objectively, as an object of luxury; whereas luxuria, always subjectively, as a propensity and disposition, as the desiderative of luxus.

From Project Gutenberg