Etymology of the English word imperative
the English word
imperativederived from the Old French word
imperatifderived from the Latin word
imperativusderived from the Latin word
imperatusderived from the Latin word
imperare (order, command, levy)
using the Latin prefix
in- (suffix for no)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ne (not)
derived from the Latin word
parare (prepare; furnish, supply)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*perə-Date
The earliest known usage of imperative in English dates from the 16th century.
Derivations in English
imperativalCognates
Dutch
imperatief, French
impératif, German
Imperativ, Italian
imperativo, Norwegian
imperativ, Spanish
imperativo, Swedish
imperativUsage
Word found in Modern English
