Mitterent

Mitterent is a Latin verb form, not a standalone verb. It is the imperfect active subjunctive, third person plural, of the verb mittere, meaning “to send.” As a subjunctive form, mitterent expresses hypothetical or potential action in a past or past-referenced context, rather than a straightforward past fact.

In morphology, mitterent is built from the present stem mitt- with the imperfect subjunctive endings used for the third conjugation. The form mitterent corresponds to “they would send” or “that they would send” in English. It appears in dependent clauses where the action is viewed as uncertain, desired, or conditional, often in clauses introduced by si (if) or ut (that, in order that).

Usage of mitterent follows standard patterns for imperfect subjunctive verbs. It is common in conditional clauses contrary to fact in the past, in reported speech, and in stylistic or literary prose. Context determines whether the meaning is best rendered as a simple conditional (“they would send”) or a potential past action (“they might send”) depending on the surrounding verbs and time frame.

In classical Latin, mitterent can occur in a variety of registers, from narrative to rhetorical, and it contrasts with the present subjunctive mitteant or mitterant in other voices or tenses. For learners, recognizing the form as imperfect subjunctive helps identify its nuanced mood and its role in hypothetical or contingent clauses.

See also: mittere, Latin subjunctive, Past conditional in Latin.