audiret

Audiret is a Latin verb form derived from audire, meaning “to hear.” It is the third-person singular imperfect active subjunctive of the verb, used in subordinate clauses to express potential, hypothetical, or non-factual action in past-time contexts.

Formation and paradigm: The form is built from the present stem audi- with the imperfect subjunctive ending for the third person singular, -ret. The full paradigm of the imperfect active subjunctive for audire is: audirem, audires, audiret, audiremus, audiretis, audirent. In other words, audiret represents the “he would hear / he might hear” reading, depending on context.

Function and usage: The imperfect active subjunctive, including audiret, appears in various subordinate clauses, often after verbs of saying, thinking, perceiving, or commanding in past contexts, or in contrafactual, potential, or wishful statements. Its translation varies with context and tense sequence, commonly rendered as “he would hear” or “he might hear,” or as part of indirect speech or purpose clauses in past narrative.

Related forms and notes: Audiret is part of a broader series of imperfect subjunctive forms for the verb audire and the Latin four conjugations’ regular mood system. Learners typically study it alongside other imperfect subjunctive forms (e.g., audirem, audires) to master the nuanced uses of the subjunctive in conditional, causal, and indirect speech constructions. The related imperfect passive subjunctive would appear as audiretur, distinct in voice rather than mood.

See also: Latin grammar, subjunctive mood, Latin verbs, audire.