itineraret

Itineraret is a Latin verb form used primarily as a grammatical example rather than as a widely attested lexical item in classical texts. It represents the imperfect subjunctive of a hypothetical first-conjugation verb itinerare, a verb formed from the stem itiner- with the customary imperfect subjunctive ending -aret. In that sense, itineraret would correspond to translations such as “he would travel” or “that he might travel,” depending on context and clause type.

In Latin grammar, the imperfect subjunctive is used to express potential, hypothetical, or contingent action in subordinate clauses, as well as in certain indirect or optative constructions. The form itineraret serves to illustrate how first-conjugation verbs would behave in the imperfect subjunctive: the stem is combined with -aret in the third-person singular. Because itinerare is not a frequently attested or widely used verb in surviving Latin literature, itineraret is most often encountered in pedagogical materials and discussions of Latin conjugation patterns rather than as a common verb form in ancient authors.

Related terms and concepts include itinerarium (a travel route or itinerary) and iter, a Latin noun meaning a journey or route. Itineraret is sometimes cited in linguistic descriptions to demonstrate the typical -aret ending of the imperfect subjunctive for first-conjugation verbs, illustrating the broader system of Latin subordinate tenses and moods.

Notes and references in grammar handbooks, such as Allen and Greenough’s Latin Grammar and other Latin pedagogy resources, discuss the formation and use of the imperfect subjunctive, with itineraret serving as a standard illustrative example.