Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Infinitive
In-fin′i-tive
,Noun.
Unlimited; not bounded or restricted; undefined.
Infinitive mood
(Gram.)
, that form of the verb which merely names the action, and performs the office of a verbal noun. Some grammarians make two forms in English: (
a
) The simple form, as, speak, go, hear, before which to is commonly placed, as, to speak; to go; to hear. (b
) The form of the imperfect participle, called the infinitive in -ing; as, going is as easy as standing.With the auxiliary verbs may, can, must, might, could, would, and should, the simple infinitive is expressed without to; as, you may speak; they must hear, etc. The infinitive usually omits to with the verbs let, dare, do, bid, make, see, hear, need, etc.; as, let me go; you dare not tell; make him work; hear him talk, etc.
☞ In Anglo-Saxon, the simple infinitive was not preceded by to (the sign of modern simple infinitive), but it had a dative form (sometimes called the gerundial infinitive) which was preceded by to, and was chiefly employed in expressing purpose. See
Gerund
, 2. The gerundial ending (-anne) not only took the same form as the simple infinitive (-an), but it was confounded with the present participle in -ende, or -inde (later -inge).
In-fin′i-tive
,Noun.
(Gram.)
An infinitive form of the verb; a verb in the infinitive mood; the infinitive mood.
In-fin′i-tive
,adv.
(Gram.)
In the manner of an infinitive mood.
Webster 1828 Edition
Infinitive
INFIN'ITIVE
,Adj.
In grammar, the infinitive mode expresses the action of the verb, without limitation of person or number; as, to love.