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Optative vs Optional - What's the difference?

optative | optional |

As adjectives the difference between optative and optional

is that optative is expressing a wish or a choice while optional is not compulsory; left to personal choice; elective.

As a noun optative

is a mood of verbs found in some languages (e.g. Old Prussian, Ancient Greek), used to express a wish. English has no inflexional optative mood, but it has modal verbs like "might" and "may" that express possibility.

optative

English

Alternative forms

*

Adjective

(-)
  • expressing a wish or a choice.
    • (Fuller)
  • (grammar) related or pertaining to the optative mood.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (grammar) a mood of verbs found in some languages (e.g. Old Prussian, Ancient Greek), used to express a wish. English has no inflexional optative mood, but it has modal verbs like "might" and "may" that express possibility.
  • (grammar) a verb or expression in the optative mood.

    • Derived terms

    * optatively

    See also

    * subjunctive

    optional

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Not compulsory; left to personal choice; elective.
    • On that beach clothing is entirely optional .

    Antonyms

    * obligatory * mandatory * compulsory

    Related terms

    * option * optionality