optativelyadv.
/ˈɒptətᵻvli/, U.S. /ˈɑptədᵻvli/ In an optative manner or sense, in expression of a wish; in the optative mood.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > wishing > [adverb]
wishingly1571
wishfully1598
optatively1626
wishlya1825
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > mood > [adverb] > other spec.
imperatively1586
indicativelya1603
optatively1626
potentially1650
subjunctively1651
1626 Bp. J. Hall Serm. Publike Thanksgiuing 7 God blesseth man imparatiuely, and man blesseth God optatiuely.
1657 J. Trapp Comm. Job xvi. 4 Some read it optatively, as..Would to God your soul were in my souls stead.
1832 Fraser's Mag. 6 291 They all, unâ voce, declaratively or optatively, condemned the conduct of the council.
1890 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 148 88/1 The only persons even optatively addicted to it belong to a species of miser vanished long since.
1945 Philos. & Phenomenol. Res. 6 321 A proposition may be entertained not only assertively, but also negatively, questioningly, hortatorily, optatively, or hypothetically.
1996 Irish Amer. (Nexis) 31 Oct. 68 The 1937 Constitution where the word ‘first’ is applied, though only optatively as it turns out, to the Irish language.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1626