optative adj 1: indicating an option or wish 2: relating to a mood of verbs in some languages; "optative verb endings" n 1: a mood (as in Greek or Sanskrit) that expresses a wish or hope; expressed in English by modal verbs [syn: {optative mood}, {optative}]
Optative \Op"ta*tive\, a. [L. optativus: cf. F. optatif.] Expressing desire or wish. --Fuller. [1913 Webster] {Optative mood} (Gram.), that mood or form of a verb, as in Greek, Sanskrit, etc., in which a wish or desire is expressed. [1913 Webster]
Optative \Op"ta*tive\, n. [Cf. F. optatif.] 1. Something to be desired. [R.] --Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. (Gram.) The optative mood; also, a verb in the optative mood. [1913 Webster]