English Explanatory Dictionary

infinitive

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The infinitive mood or mode (a grammatical mood).
  2. A non-finite verb form considered neutral with respect to inflection; depending on language variously found used with auxiliary verbs, in subordinate clauses, or acting as a gerund, and often as the dictionary form.
  3. A verbal noun formed from the infinitive of a verb.
adj
  1. Formed with the infinitive.
  2. Unlimited; not bounded or restricted; undefined.

Pronunciation

/ɪnˈfɪnɪtɪv/ /ɪnˈfɪnətɪv/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-infinitive.wav

Word forms

infinitive infinitives

Etymology

From Middle English infenitife (“without end, in perpetuity”), from Late Latin īnfīnītīvus (“unlimited, indefinite”), from Latin īnfīnītus (“unlimited, infinite”). By surface analysis, infinite + -ive.

Related words

gerund supine lemma verb

Derived words

bare infinitive full infinitive infinitival infinitive marker infinitive of purpose perfect infinitive split an infinitive split infinitive to-infinitive zu-infinitive infinitively
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