subjunctive
$ \mathrm{subjunctive}^1
adjective
/səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv/
(grammar)
​(of verbs) in the form (or mood) that expresses wishes, possibility or uncertainty
the subjunctive mood
TOPICS Language C1
$ \mathrm{subjunctive}^2
noun
/səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv/
(grammar)
​the form (or mood) of a verb that expresses wishes, possibility or uncertainty; a verb in this form
The verb is in the subjunctive.
In ‘I wish I were taller’, ‘were’ is a subjunctive.
TOPICS Language C1
Word Origin
mid 16th cent.: from French subjonctif, -ive or late Latin subjunctivus, from subjungere (from sub- ‘in addition’ + jungere ‘to join’), rendering Greek hupotaktikos ‘subjoined’ (add comments at the end of a speech or text).