Adjacent Words

Infinitive definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

INFIN'ITIVE, a. [L. infinitivus.]
In grammar, the infinitive mode expresses the action of the verb, without limitation of person or number; as, to love.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the uninflected form of the verb

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English infinityf, from Late Latin infinitivus, from Latin infinitus Date: 15th century formed with the infinitive • infinitively adverb II. noun Date: 1530 a verb form normally identical in English with the first person singular that performs some functions of a noun and at the same time displays some characteristics of a verb and that is used with to (as in “I asked him to go”) except with auxiliary and various other verbs (as in “no one saw him leave”)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & adj. --n. a form of a verb expressing the verbal notion without reference to a particular subject, tense, etc. (e.g. see in we came to see, let him see). --adj. having this form. Derivatives: infinitival adj. infinitivally adv. Etymology: L infinitivus (as IN-(1), finitivus definite f. finire finit- define)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Infinitive In*fin"i*tive, n. (Gram.) An infinitive form of the verb; a verb in the infinitive mood; the infinitive mood.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Infinitive In*fin"i*tive, adv. (Gram.) In the manner of an infinitive mood.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(infinitives) The infinitive of a verb is the basic form, for example 'do', 'be', 'take', and 'eat'. The infinitive is often used with 'to' in front of it. N-COUNT