indicative, a. (n.)
(ɪnˈdɪkətɪv, ˈɪndɪkeɪtɪv)
[ad. F. indicatif, -ive (Oresme, 14th c.) = Sp., It. indicativo, ad. L. indicātīv-us (in sense 1 below), f. indicāt-: see indicate and -ive. The first pronunciation is that used in sense 1; the second is frequent, though not exclusive, in sense 2, in which it is recognized by Smart, 1836.]
A. adj.
1. Gram. That points out, states, or declares: applied to that mood of a verb of which the essential function is to state a relation of objective fact between the subject and predicate (as opposed to a relation merely conceived, thought of, or wished, by the speaker).
| 1530 Palsgr. 84 The indicative mode they use whan they shewe or tell a thyng to be done. 1669 Milton Accedence Wks. (1851) 447 The Indicative Mood sheweth or declareth, as laudo I praise. 1705 Hickeringill Priest-cr. i. (1721) 16 The original Greek Word, translated search, may as well be translated in the Indicative Mood. 1876 Mason Eng. Gram. (ed. 21) 62 note, In modern English it is getting..more and more common to use the Indicative Mood in cases where the Subjunctive would be more correct. 1892 Sweet Eng. Gram. I. 105 The statement he comes is in the ‘indicative’ mood. |
b. Of a form of statement: Having the verb in the indicative mood; assertive of objective fact.
| a 1667 Jer. Taylor Div. Instit. Office Ministerial (R.), The instance of Isaac blessing Jacob, which in the several parts was expressed in all forms, indicative, optative, enunciative. 1872 O. Shipley Gloss. Eccl. Terms s.v. Absolvo te, It is a matter of controversy whether the indicative or the precative form of absolution was the earliest. |
2. That indicates, points out, or directs; that hints or suggests. † indicative day (see quot. and cf. indicant a.).
| 1624 F. White Reply Fisher 525 It is a Precept indicatiue, or significatiue, what is fit to be done, but not obligant. 1647 Lilly Chr. Astrol. xlvii. 292 It was the first Indicative day, wherein the Physician might expect how the disease then would shew it selfe. 1653 R. Sanders Physiogn. 11 The next is called Index, the indicative or demonstrative finger, because with it we point at any thing. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. vi. iv. (1737) III. 371 That which we..have already term'd her persuasive or indicative Effort. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. xii. 73, I shall pass over these whole hundred of his puerile rogueries (although indicative ones I may say). 1865 W. Collins Armadale iv. v, The lawyer's indicative snuff-box was..in one of his hands, as he opened the door with the other. |
b. Furnishing indications of; suggestive of.
| 1663 J. Spencer Prodigies (1665) 315 There are no such indicative Signs of any changes in States and times as mention hath been made of. 1772 Ann. Reg. 8/2 These transactions seemed indicative of some such consequences as followed. 1812 Sir H. Davy Chem. Philos. 7 The earlier philosophical work of the Romans, as if indicative of the youth of the people, is marked by power and genius, by boldness and incorrectness. 1882 Westcott St. John Introd. 8 The portraiture of the people in the fourth Gospel is no less indicative of its Jewish authorship. |
B. absol. and as n. Gram. The indicative mood; an instance of this, a verb in the indicative mood.
| 1530 Palsgr. 99 The first parson singular of the indiffinite tense of the indicative. a 1679 Poole in Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. xxv, The infinitive is here thought to be put for the future tense of the indicative. 1870 Moulton tr. Winer's Gram. N.T. iii. xli, The indicative denotes the actual, the conjunctive and optative that which is merely possible. 1879 Roby Lat. Gram. II. 235 Principal clauses which contain an indicative or imperative. 1892 Sweet Eng. Gram. I. 107 The inflections of the English verb are so scanty that..the distinction between indicative and subjunctive is very slight. |