Desejásseis

Desejásseis is the second-person plural imperfect subjunctive form of the Portuguese verb desejar, meaning to desire. It corresponds to the vós form, used with the archaic or formal second-person plural pronoun. The form is derived from the stem desej- with the imperfect subjunctive endings typical of -ar verbs, yielding desejásseis as a literary or historical variant.

Usage and context may vary by dialect and period. Today, desejar is commonly conjugated in the imperfect subjunctive for the modern, everyday speech using forms like desejasse, desejasses, desejasse, desejássemos, desejassem. The explicit vós form desejásseis is largely restricted to classical literature, formal writings, or revived archaic styles, and is seldom heard in contemporary conversation, especially outside traditional or ceremonial registers. In many modern contexts, speakers replace vós forms with você/vocês constructions and corresponding third-person forms.

Examples of usage illustrate its formal tone: “Se vós desejásseis participar do projeto, apresentareis uma proposta até o fim do mês.” and “Caso vós desejásseis saber mais, consultai o capítulo seguinte.” These sentence constructions reflect an older, more formal register; in standard modern Portuguese, one would typically say, for example, “Se vocês desejassem participar...” to convey a similar meaning without the archaic pronoun.

Etymology and related forms: desejar comes from Latin desiderare, meaning to desire. The imperfect subjunctive forms share the typical -asse/-asseis endings found in Portuguese, with desejásseis representing the second-person plural variant known from traditional and literary usage.