/ səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv; NAmE / noun
( 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.
► sub·junct·ive adjective :
the subjunctive mood
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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).