subjunctive Definition

subjunctive
adj

1. Said of the mood of a verb: used in English for denoting the conditional or hypothetical (eg ‘If he were in hospital, I would certainly visit him' or ‘If I were you') or the mandatory (eg ‘I insist he leave now'), although in other languages it has a wider application.

noun

1. The subjunctive mood.
2. A verb in this mood. Compare indicative, conditional, imperative.

Derivative: subjunctively
adverb

Etymology: 16c: from Latin subjungere to subjoin.