INDICATIVE

Indicative, adj. (n.) [ad. F. indicatif, -ive = Sp., It. indicativo, ad. L. indicativ-us (in sense 1 below), f. indicat-: see indicate and -ive.]

A. adj.


1. Gram. That points out, states, or declares: applied to that mood of a verb of which the essential function is to state a relation of objective fact between the subject and predicate (as opposed to a relation merely conceived, thought of, or wished, by the speaker). OED.
Semantic identity: French: Indicatif; Spanish: Indicativo.

In modern English it is getting […] more and more common to use the Indicative Mood in cases where the Subjunctive would be more correct. Mason (Eng. Gram.) 1876 OED

The statement he comes is in the ‘indicative’ mood. Sweet (Eng. Gram.) 1892 OED



b. Of a form of statement: Having the verb in the indicative mood; assertive of objective fact. OED.
Semantic identity: French: Indicatif; Spanish: Indicativo.

The instance of Isaac blessing Jacob, which in the several parts was expressed in all forms, indicative, optative, enunciative. Jer. Taylor (Div. Instit. Office Ministerial) a1667 OED



2. That indicates, points out, or directs; that hints or suggests. OED.

The next is called Index, the indicative or demonstrative finger, because with it we point at any thing. R. Sanders (Physiogn.) 1653 OED

I shall pass over these whole hundred of his puerile rogueries (although indicative ones I may say). Richardson (Clarissa) 1748 OED

The lawyer's indicative snuff-box was […] in one of his hands, as he opened the door with the other. W. Collins (Armadale) 1865 OED



b. Furnishing indications of; suggestive of. OED.

Semantic identity: French: Indicatif; Spanish: Indicativo.

These transactions seemed indicative of some such consequences as followed. Ann. Reg. 1772 OED

I saw, or dreamed that I saw, standing upon the extreme verge of the precipice, with neck out-stretched, with ears erect, and the whole attitude indicative of profound and melancholy inquisitiveness, one of the oldest and boldest of those identical elks which had been coupled with the red men of my vision. E. Poe. (Estéf.)

B. absol. and as n. Gram. The indicative mood; an instance of this, a verb in the indicative mood. OED.

The indicative denotes the actual, the conjunctive and optative that which is merely possible. Moulton (Winer's Gram. N.T.) 1870 OED

The inflections of the English verb are so scanty that […] the distinction between indicative and subjunctive is very slight. Sweet (Eng. Gram.) 1892 OED