gerundive

[ juh-ruhn-div ]
/ dʒəˈrʌn dɪv /

noun

(in Latin) a verbal adjective similar to the gerund in form and noting the obligation, necessity, or worthiness of the action to be done, as legendus in Liber legendus est, “The book is worth reading.” See also gerund(def 1).

adjective

resembling a gerund. See also gerund(def 2).

Origin of gerundive

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Late Latin word gerundīvus. See gerund, -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM gerundive

ger·un·di·val [jer-uh n-dahy-vuh l] /ˌdʒɛr ənˈdaɪ vəl/, adjective ge·run·dive·ly, adverb non·ge·run·dive, adjective non·ge·run·dive·ly, adverb

Words nearby gerundive

gershwin, gershwin, george, gert, gertrude, gerund, gerundive, gervais, geryon, gerzean, gesamtkunstwerk, geschrei

Example sentences from the Web for gerundive

British Dictionary definitions for gerundive

gerundive
/ (dʒɪˈrʌndɪv) /

noun

(in Latin grammar) an adjective formed from a verb, expressing the desirability of the activity denoted by the verb

adjective

of or relating to the gerund or gerundive

Derived forms of gerundive

gerundival (ˌdʒɛrənˈdaɪvəl), adjective gerundively, adverb

Word Origin for gerundive

C17: from Late Latin gerundīvus, from gerundium gerund