imperative mood

imperative mood (plural imperative moods)

1. (grammar) The grammatical mood generally expressing a command, though also used to express a request or permission.
   • 1591, Shakespeare, King Henry VI, part 1:

     Go to the gates of Bourdeaux, trumpeter: Summon their general unto the wall.

   • 1879, Kentucky Public Documents‎:

     According to the definition of the imperative, this mood can express nothing but a command. Yet verbs of imperative form may also express entreaty or permission, as may, indeed, the indicative and the generally so-called potential.

• imperative
• imperative mode

• Thesaurus:grammatical mood