Hortative

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈhɔːtÉ™tɪv/
• US
• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)tÉ™tɪv

Origin

From Latin hortātīvus, from hortor ("I exhort").

Full definition of hortative

Adjective

1. (comparable) Urging, exhorting, or encouraging.
• 1854, "The Preaching Required by the Times" (Editorial), The National Magazine, New York, vol. 4, no. 1 (Jan.), pp. 79-80.The ministration of these oracles from the pulpit is to be reformed from any of its factitious peculiarities, and made again what it was among the apostles and their immediate successors—earnest, simple, powerful address—hortative talk, if we may so call it.
2. (grammar, not comparable) Of a mood or class of imperative subjunctive moods of a verb for giving strong encouragement.

Synonyms

• (giving strong encouragement) hortatory, supportive
• (of a mood of a verb) cohortative, exhortative, hortatory

Noun

1. (grammar) A mood or class of imperative subjunctive moods of a verb for giving strong encouragement.

Synonyms

• (mood of an imperative verb) cohortative, exhortative

Related terms

• cohortative
• exhortative
• hortatory