infinitive

  • 1Infinitive — In*fin i*tive, n. [L. infinitivus: cf. F. infinitif. See {Infinite}.] Unlimited; not bounded or restricted; undefined. [1913 Webster] {Infinitive mood} (Gram.), that form of the verb which merely names the action, and performs the office of a… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2infinitive — The infinitive of a verb is its simplest uninflected form, and the form that appears as the headword in dictionaries. When used in sentences, there are two basic kinds of infinitive: (1) the bare infinitive, identical to the form just mentioned,… …

    Modern English usage

  • 3Infinitive — In*fin i*tive, n. (Gram.) An infinitive form of the verb; a verb in the infinitive mood; the infinitive mood. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4infinitive — [in fin′i tiv] adj. [LL infinitivus < L infinitivus (modus), lit., unlimited (mood) < infinitus (see INFINITE): so named because it is not limited to any person, number, or tense] Gram. of or connected with an infinitive [an infinitive… …

    English World dictionary

  • 5Infinitive — In*fin i*tive, adv. (Gram.) In the manner of an infinitive mood. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6infinitive — (n.) simple, uninflected form of a verb, 1510s (mid 15c. as an adjective), from L.L. infinitivus unlimited, indefinite, from L. infinitus (see INFINITE (Cf. infinite)). Indefinite because not having definite person or number …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 7infinitive — ► NOUN ▪ the basic form of a verb, without an inflection binding it to a particular subject or tense (normally occurring in English with the word to, as in to see, to ask). ORIGIN from Latin infinitus, from in not + finitus finished, finite …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8Infinitive — In grammar, infinitive is the name for certain verb forms that exist in many languages. In the usual (traditional) description of English, the infinitive of a verb is its basic form with or without the particle to: therefore, do and to do, be and …

    Wikipedia

  • 9infinitive — ● infinitif, infinitive adjectif (bas latin infinitivus modus) Proposition infinitive ou infinitive (nom féminin), proposition subordonnée complétive dont le verbe est à l infinitif (par exemple j entends chanter les oiseaux). ● infinitif,… …

    Encyclopédie Universelle

  • 10infinitive — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ bare ▪ Modal verbs generally take the bare infinitive. ▪ perfect ▪ You use ‘have’ to form the perfect infinitive of a verb. ▪ passive …

    Collocations dictionary