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Behest vs Imperative - What's the difference?

behest | imperative |

As a noun behest

is a command, bidding; sometimes also, an authoritative request.

As a verb behest

is (obsolete) to promise; vow.

As an adjective imperative is

.

behest

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A command, bidding; sometimes also, an authoritative request.
  • * 1977 , , Penguin Classics, p. 278:
    • Paul did not dare pronounce, let matters rest, / His master having given him no behest .
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • to do his master's high behest
  • * 2007 , Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day :
    • And young Mr. Fleetwood Vibe was here at the behest of his father, Wall Street eminence Scarsdale Vibe, who was effectively bankrolling the Expedition.
  • * 2009 , “What a waste”, The Economist , 15 Oct 2009:
    • the House of Representatives will try to water down even this feeble effort at the behest of the unions whose members enjoy some of the most lavish policies.
  • * 2011 , Owen Gibson, The Guardian , 24 Mar 2011:
    • The Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, is to meet with the BBC director general, Mark Thompson, at the behest of the Premier League in a bid to resolve their long-running feud.
  • A vow; a promise.
  • * Paston
    • The time is come that I should send it her, if I keep the behest that I have made.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To promise; vow.

    • Anagrams

    *

    imperative

    English

    Alternative forms

    *

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • essential
    • It is imperative that you come here right now.
  • (computing theory) Having a semantics that incorporates mutable variables.
  • (grammar) of, or relating to the imperative mood
  • Expressing a command; authoritatively or absolutely directive.
    • imperative orders
  • * Bishop Hall
    • The suits of kings are imperative .

    Noun

  • (uncountable, grammar) The grammatical mood expressing an order (see jussive). In English, the imperative form of a verb is the same as that of the bare infinitive.
    • The verbs in sentences like "Do it!" and "Say what you like!" are in the imperative .
  • (countable, grammar) A verb in imperative mood.
  • (countable) An essential action, a must: something which is imperative.
    • Visiting Berlin is an imperative .
  • *

    • Synonyms

    * (grammatical mood) imperative mood

    Derived terms

    * first imperative (Latin grammar) * second imperative (Latin grammar) * categorical imperative

    Coordinate terms

    * (in grammar) assertoric, interrogative