Definition of "optatives" [optatives]

• Plural form of optative. (noun)

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• "˜Would that everybody desired that not-X!™, and the desires expressed by these two optatives are not compossible, or at least, are only compossible on the condition that we all have inconsistent desires (both for X and for not-X)."
• "As such the two optatives contradict each other, not because they describe incompatible facts but because they prescribe incompatible states of affairs."
• "Judgments that this or that is good or bad were to be construed as disguised optatives"