gerundive

English

Etymology

From Latin gerundīvus (“of a gerund”), from gerundium (“gerund”), from gerundus (“which is to be carried out”), future passive participle (gerundive) of gerō (“carry, bear”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dʒəˈɹʌndɪv/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Noun

gerundive (plural gerundives)

1. (in Latin grammar) a verbal adjective that describes obligation or necessity, equivalent in form to the future passive participle.
2. (less commonly, in English grammar) a verbal adjective ending in -ing, also called a "present participle".

Usage notes

English grammar does not have an exact equivalent to the Latin gerundive. English verbal adjectives ending in -ing are similar, but the Latin gerundive implies a sense of necessity that is lacking from the English construct. For example, the word “agenda” (i.e. “things that ought to be done,” not just “things to be done”) conveys the sense of necessity from the Latin gerundive.

Related terms

• gerund
• gerundial

Translations

Latin verbal adjective that describes obligation or necessity

• Finnish: gerundiivi
• French: gérondif (fr) m
• German: Gerundiv (de) n, Gerundivum (de) n
• Hungarian: gerundivum (hu)
• Latin: gerundīvum n
• Norwegian: gerundiv
• Russian: герунди́в (ru) m (gerundív)
• Serbo-Croatian: gerundiv (sh)
• Slovene: gerundiv m
• Spanish: gerundivo (es) m
• Swedish: gerundivum (sv) n

verbal adjective — see also present participle

• Finnish: gerundi (fi)
• French: adjectif verbal (fr) m

Adjective

gerundive (not comparable)

1. gerundial

Derived terms

• gerundively

Anagrams

• un-grieved, ungrieved

Latin

Etymology

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ɡe.runˈdiː.u̯e/, [ɡɛrʊn̪ˈd̪iːu̯ɛ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /d͡ʒe.runˈdi.ve/, [d͡ʒerun̪ˈd̪iːve]

Noun

gerundīve

1. vocative singular of gerundivus