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impératif

imperative, essential

adjective noun am-peh-rah-TEEF Rare

Origin: Latin imperativus, from imperare 'to command'

Also means

imperative (grammatical mood)

Usage Note

Impératif as an adjective means something is urgently necessary ('il est impératif de partir'). As a noun, l'impératif is the imperative mood in grammar, used to give commands. The feminine form is impérative.

Examples

"Il est impératif d'agir maintenant."

Natural Translation

It is imperative to act now.

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