imperative, a. and n.
(ɪmˈpɛrətɪv)
[ad. late L. imperātīv-us of or proceeding from a command, commanded (Macrobius), ‘modus imperativus’ (Martianus Capella), f. imperāre, imperāt- to command: see -ive. Cf. F. impératif.]
A. adj.
1. a. Gram. Expressing command: applied to the verbal mood (or any form belonging to it) which expresses a command, request, or exhortation.
| 1530 Palsgr. Introd. 31 Modes: every parfyte verbe hath vi, the indicatyve, imperatyve [etc.]. 1581 R. Goade in Confer. ii. (1584) M ij b, It is the Imperatiue mode, and therefore a commaundement. 1665 Wither Lord's Prayer 125 It is usual with the Prophets to express in the Imperative Mood, and by way of Prayer, those Benedictions which God hath decreed and promised to the Righteous. 1824 L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 112 The Imperative Mood is used for commanding, exhorting, entreating, or permitting. |
b. imperative logic (Philos.): the theory of logical reasoning based on the commands and obligations contained in the imperative mood.
| [1839 Mill Let. 4 Nov. in Works (1963) XIII. 412 Above all mine is a logic of the indicative mood alone—the logic of the imperative, in which the major premiss says not is but ought—I do not meddle with.] 1939 Philos. of Sci. VI. 453 (heading) A logic of the doubtful. On optative and imperative logic. 1952 R. M. Hare Lang. Morals i. ii. 27 It is important to realize that modal imperative logic is as distinct from the logic of simple imperatives as in the case of the indicative mood. 1958 Analysis XVIII. 50 A thoroughgoing reduction of deontic logic to imperative logic would require Procrustean amputations. |
2. Having the quality or property of commanding; of the nature of, characterized by, or expressing a command; commanding; peremptory.
| 1598 Florio, Imperatiuo, imperatiue, or commanding. 1612–15 Bp. Hall Contempl., O.T. xv. iv, The suits of kings are imperative. 1794 Gouv. Morris in Sparks Life & Writ. (1832) II. 394 Subject to the imperative, and too often the imperious, mandates of a Committee. 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxxii. 293 A female voice said something in a quick imperative tone. |
3. Demanding obedience, execution, action, etc.; that must be done or performed; urgent; of the nature of a duty; obligatory.
| 1823 Byron Juan vi. cxiv, But such precipitation may end ill, Even at your own imperative expense. 1843 Lytton Last Bar. i. v, Science was of more imperative necessity than even Hunger. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. II. 191 The condition of our sick men made it imperative that I should return at once. 1891 Spectator 4 Apr., The work is quite imperative, and its result will be most beneficial. |
B. n.
1. Gram. The imperative mood, or a verbal form belonging to it (see A. 1).
| 1530 Palsgr. Introd. 36 Je puis wanteth his present imparatyve and his present optatyve. 1624 N. De Lawne tr. Du Moulin's Logic 108 Imperatives, Optatives, and Subjunctives enter not into an Enuntiation. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Mood, I love, is a simple affirmation; love, an imperative. 1755 Johnson Eng. Gram., The Imperative prohibitory is seldom applied in the second person..without the word do; as Stop him, but do not hurt him. 1871 Roby Lat. Gram. §581 The imperative present appears to consist of shortened forms of the indicative present. |
2. a. An imperative action, speech, condition, etc.; an action, etc. involving or expressing a command; a command.
| 1606 W. Birnie Kirk-Buriall xvi, The Lords lawes are either imperatiues of good or inhibitiues of ill. 1633 T. Adams Exp. 2 Peter iii. 16. 1452 There be..such mysticall allusions, such majesticall imparatives. 1837 Sir W. Hamilton Metaph. xlvi. (1870) II. 516 The unconditional imperative of the moral law. 1868 Bain Ment. & Mor. Sc. (1875) 459 There is no act however trivial which cannot be raised to the position of a moral act, by the imperative of society. |
b. categorical imperative: see categorical A. 1 c.
| 1796 F. A. Nitsch Gen. View Kant's Princ. concerning Man 195 An Imperative..which is founded upon reason itself..is a Categorical Imperative which represents an action as necessary in itself. 1817 Coleridge Biog. Lit. 70 The unconditional command, or (in the technical language of his school) the categorical imperative, of the conscience. 1888 Pall Mall G. 29 Oct. 2/2 The practical importance of the doctrine of the Divinity of Christ has always seemed to me to lie in the fact that it invests His teaching with the authority of the Categorical Imperative. |