Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Late Latin
Origin: imperativus, from Latin imperatus, past participle of imperare 'to command'

imperative

1 adjective
     
Related topics: Grammar
im‧per‧a‧tive1
1 extremely important and needing to be done or dealt with immediately:
It is imperative that politicians should be good communicators.
it is imperative (for somebody) to do something
It is imperative to meet face to face with the client.
2 technicalSLG an imperative verb is one that expresses an order, such as 'stand up'
—imperatively adverb
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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