gerundive

English

From Middle English gerundif, gerundyf, gerundyfe, gerundyffe, gerundyve, from Latin gerundīvum (“gerundive”),^[1] from gerundium (“gerund”), from gerundus (“which is to be carried out”), future passive participle (gerundive) of gerō (“carry, bear”). By surface analysis, gerund +‎ -ive.

gerundive (plural gerundives)

(in Latin grammar) A verbal adjective that describes obligation or necessity, equivalent in form to the future passive participle.
(less commonly, in English grammar) A verbal adjective ending in -ing,^[2] also called a "present participle".

English grammar does not have an exact equivalent to the Latin gerundive: English verbal adjectives ending in -ing are similar, but the Latin gerundive implies a sense of necessity that is lacking from the English construct.

Latin verbal adjective that describes obligation or necessity

verbal adjective — see also present participle

gerundive (not comparable)

pertaining to or behaving like a gerund

^ “ǧerundī̆f, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
^ the Australian Macquarie Dictionary (revised 3rd ed), second sense of Gerundive
^ “gerundive, adj. and n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.