optat

Optat is a Latin verb form meaning “he desires” or “he wishes.” It is the third-person singular present active indicative of optō, optāre, a first-conjugation verb meaning to choose or to desire. Optō and its forms are typical of classical Latin usage and appear frequently in literature, inscriptions, and manuscripts.

The present indicative forms of optō are optō, optās, optat, optāmus, optātis, optant. Other common tenses include the imperfect optābam, optābās, optābat, optābāmus, optābātis, optābant; the future optābō, optābis, optābit, optābimus, optābitis, optābunt; and the perfect optāvī, optāvistī, optāvit, optāvimus, optāvistis, optāvērunt. The imperative forms are optā (singular) and optāte (plural). The verb regularly governs a direct object in the accusative to denote what is desired, e.g., aliquid optat, or can be used with ut-clause to express a wish, e.g., optat ut pax sit.

Usage notes: optat conveys intention or desire and can express simple desire (aliquid optat) or a wish regarding a future state (ut clauses). In translation, optat typically becomes “he wishes” or “he desires.” The root optō also yields related terms such as optio, meaning “a choice,” and optativus, a grammatical term describing a wish-related mood in some languages.

See also: optō, optāre; option; optativus.