a. and sb. [ad. L. subjunctīv-us, f. subjunct-, pa. ppl. stem of subjungĕre to SUBJOIN. Cf. F. subjonctif, It. subiuntivo, Sp. subjuntivo; also It. soggiuntivo.]
A. adj.
I. Gram. That is subjoined or dependent.
L. subjunctivus is a translation of Gr. ὑποτακτικόν, which as a grammatical term was used variously with the meaning ‘subjoined’: see below.
† a. Subjunctive article (Gr. ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν), the relative ὄς ἤ ὄ, as opposed to the ‘prepositive article‘ ὁ ἡ τό; hence subjunctive pronoun, adverb = relative pronoun, adverb. Subjunctive vowel (L. vocalis subjunctiva, Gr. φωνῆεν ὑποτακτικόν), the second vowel of a diphthong. Subjunctive proposition, a subordinate clause. Obs.
1583. subjunctive article [see PREPOSITIVE].
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1355. This particle or Conjunction Ει, that is to say, If, and … what Subjunctive proposition soever following after it.
1700. A. Lane, Key Art Lett. (1705), 10. Ε Subjunctive is written at the end of a word, after a single Consonant to make the single Vowel before it long.
1751. Harris, Hermes, I. v. (1765), 79. We may with just reason … call this Pronoun the Subjunctive, because it cannot … introduce an original Sentence.
1818. Stoddart, in Encycl. Metrop. (1845), I. 43/1. The principal subjunctive pronouns in English are who and which, and sometimes that.
1824. L. Murray, Engl. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 195. When we read the first chapter of Genesis, we perceive, that this subjunctive pronoun, as it may be called, occurs but seldom.
b. Designating a mood (L. modus subjunctivus, Gr. ὑποτακτικὴ ἔγκλισις) the forms of which are employed to denote an action or a state as conceived (and not as a fact) and therefore used to express a wish, command, exhortation, or a contingent, hypothetical or prospective event. (The mood is used in both principal and subordinate clauses; cf., however, CONJUNCTIVE a. 3 c.) Also, belonging to this mood, e.g., subjunctive present or present subjunctive.
So named because it was regarded as specially appropriate to ‘subjoined’ or subordinate clauses.
1530. Palsgr., 84. The subjunctive mode whiche they ever use folowyng an other verbe, and addyng this worde que before hym.
1612. Brinsley, Posing Pts. (1669), 31. Why is it called the Subjunctive Mood? A. Because it dependeth upon some other Verb in the same sentence, either going before, or coming after it.
1669. Milton, Acced. Gram., 17. There be four Moods, which express the manner of doing: the Indicative, the Imperative, the Potential or Subjunctive and the Infinitive.
1751. Harris, Hermes, I. viii. (1765), 145. This Mode, as often as it is in this manner subjoined, is called by Grammarians not the Potential, but the Subjunctive.
1839. T. Mitchell, Frogs Aristoph., 589, note. Examples of a subjunctive interrogative in the present tense … are not wanting in the Greek writings.
1853. Max Müller, Chips (1880), I. iii. 79. No subjunctive mood existed in the common Sanskrit.
1861. Paley, Æschylus (ed. 2), Pers., 120. To combine an aorist subjunctive with a future indicative.
c. Characteristic of what is expressed by the subjunctive mood; contingent, hypothetical.
1837. G. Phillips, Syriac Gram., 111. The tenses … in many cases express a potential, subjunctive, or hypothetical sense.
1866. R. Chambers, Ess., Ser. II. 214. One of the subjunctive heroes of literature and science.
1893. Hansard’s Parl. Debates, Ser. II. VIII. 1589. To make a subjunctive or contingent apology.
† 2. In general sense: Additional to. Obs. rare.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, I. 87. A few things more, subjunctive to the former, were thought meet to be Castigated in Preachers at that time.
† 3. (See quot.) Obs. rare–0.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Subjunctive, that under-sets, or joyns underneath.
B. sb. Gram.
1. The subjunctive mood; a form of a verb belonging to the subjunctive mood.
1622. J. W., trans. Oudin’s Sp. Gram., 4. Cogér … maketh in the Optatiue and Subiunctiue Cója.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Mood, Men might have invented a particular Infection…. But they han’t done it; and in lieu thereof, make use of the Subjunctive.
1835. T. Mitchell, Acharn. Aristoph., 253, note. The subjunctive thus used without ἄν has an interrogative and future signification.
1860. G. P. Marsh, Lect. Engl. Lang., xiv. 317. The subjunctive is evidently passing out of use, and there is good reason to suppose that it will soon become obsolete altogether.
1875. Poste, Gaius, I. (ed. 2), 36. The edicts and interdicts of the praetor are couched in the subjunctive (Exhibeas, Restituas, &c.), a milder form of imperative.
† 2. A relative. Obs. rare.
1818. Stoddart, in Encycl. Metrop. (1845), I. 83/2. Where, whence, and whither … serve indifferently for interrogatives and subjunctives.
Hence Subjunctively adv., in the subjunctive mood, as a subjunctive.
1651. Hobbes, Leviathan, I. vi. 29. Deliberation is expressed Subjunctively; which is a speech proper to signifie suppositions.
1871. Public School Lat. Gram., § 67. 167. Examples of the Conjunctive Mood used Subjunctively accidit ut aegrotem.
