imperative: the converse of adventive, in the sense of being obligatory in the development of all members of a species; see also adventive.

Dictionary of Sexology Project: Main Index

In programming languages, imperative is the converse of declarative in the sense of describing actions, sequentially and iteratively combined into algorithms, as opposed to statements that describe the desired results in a generic fashion.

Im*per"a*tive (?), a. [L. imperativus, fr. imperare to command; pref. im- in + parare to make ready, prepare: cf. F. imp'eratif. See Perade, and cf. Empire.]

1.

Expressive of command; containing positive command; authoritatively or absolutely directive; commanding; authoritative; as, imperative orders.

The suit of kings are imperative. Bp. Hall.

2.

Not to be avoided or evaded; obligatory; binding; compulsory; as, an imperative duty or order.

3. Gram.

Expressive of commund, entreaty, advice, or exhortation; as, the imperative mood.

 

© Webster 1913.


Im*per"a*tive, n. Gram.

The imperative mood; also, a verb in the imperative mood.

 

© Webster 1913.

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