[ɪmˈpɛrətɪv], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- of vital importance; crucial
(e.g: immediate action was imperative)

- giving an authoritative command; peremptory
(e.g: the bell pealed again, a final imperative call)


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English (as a grammatical term): from late Latin imperativus (literally ‘specially ordered’, translating Greek prostaktikē enklisis ‘imperative mood’), from imperare ‘to command’, from in- ‘towards’ + parare ‘make ready’

[ɪmˈpɛrətɪv], (Noun)

Definitions:
- an essential or urgent thing
(e.g: free movement of labour was an economic imperative)

- a verb or phrase in the imperative mood


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English (as a grammatical term): from late Latin imperativus (literally ‘specially ordered’, translating Greek prostaktikē enklisis ‘imperative mood’), from imperare ‘to command’, from in- ‘towards’ + parare ‘make ready’