INFINITIVE

infinitive

(noun) the uninflected form of the verb

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

infinitive (plural infinitives)

(grammar) the infinitive mood or mode (a grammatical mood)

• s.a, Henry Tindall, A grammar and vocabulary of the Namaqua-Hottentot language, p. 38

(grammar) A non-finite verb form considered neutral with respect to inflection; depending on language variously found used with auxiliary verbs, in subordinate clauses, or acting as a gerund, and often as the dictionary form.

(grammar) A verbal noun formed from the infinitive of a verb.

Hypernyms

• (mood or mode): grammatical mood, mood, mode

• (verb (form)): verb

Adjective

infinitive (not comparable)

(grammar) Formed with the infinitive.

Unlimited; not bounded or restricted; undefined.

Source: Wiktionary

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In*fin"i*tive, n. Etym: [L. infinitivus: cf. F. infinitif. See Infinite.]

Definition: Unlimited; not bounded or restricted; undefined. Infinitive mood (Gram.), that form of the verb which merely names the action, and performs the office of a verbal noun. Some grammarians make two forms in English: (a) The simple form, as, speak, go, hear, before which to is commonly placed, as, to speak; to go; to hear. (b) The form of the imperfect participle, called the infinitive in -ing; as, going is as easy as standing.

Note: With the auxiliary verbs may, can, must, might, could, would, and should, the simple infinitive is expressed without to; as, you may speak; they must hear, etc. The infinitive usually omits to with the verbs let, dare, do, bid, make, see, hear, need, etc.; as, let me go; you dare not tell; make him work; hear him talk, etc.

Note: In Anglo-Saxon, the simple infinitive was not preceded by to (the sign of modern simple infinitive), but it had a dative form (sometimes called the gerundial infinitive) which was preceded by to, and was chiefly employed in expressing purpose. See Gerund, 2.

Note: The gerundial ending (-anne) not only took the same form as the simple infinitive (-an), but it was confounded with the present participle in -ende, or -inde (later -inge).

In*fin"i*tive, n. (Gram.)

Definition: An infinitive form of the verb; a verb in the infinitive mood; the infinitive mood.

In*fin"i*tive, adv. (Gram.)

Definition: In the manner of an infinitive mood.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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