Wordwyrt

imperative

/ˌɪmˈpeɹətɪv/im-PEH-ruh-tiv
/ˌɪmˈpɛɹətɪv/im-PEH-ruh-tiv

Meaningcommanding

Common meaning: urgent

Other meanings: a command form

Journey through time

  1. Latinimperō, imperāre‘to command’
  2. Old Frenchimperatifsource
  3. Englishimperative‘urgent’ · today

imper also in: emperor

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin imperō ‘to command’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry imperō, p. 901 · dictionary scan

Roots

Related words

emperor

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