From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsubjunctivesub‧junc‧tive /səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv/ noun [countable] SLGa verb form or a set of verb forms in grammar, used in some languages to express doubt, wishes etc. For example, in ‘if I were you’, the verb ‘to be’ is in the subjunctive. → imperative, indicative —subjunctive adjective
Examples from the Corpus
subjunctive• Hasn't Mr Brittlebrain ever heard of the subjunctive?Origin subjunctive (1500-1600) Late Latin subjunctivus, from Latin subjunctus, past participle of subjungere “to join below, subordinate” 