Both Uses of
imperative
in
The Scarlet Letter
- Pearl, looking at this bright wonder of a house began to caper and dance, and imperatively required that the whole breadth of sunshine should be stripped off its front, and given her to play with.
p. 96.5 *imperatively = in a demanding manner
- "I profess, madam," answered the clergyman, with a grave obeisance, such as the lady's rank demanded, and his own good breeding made imperative—"I profess, on my conscience and character, that I am utterly bewildered as touching the purport of your words!"
p. 206.9imperative = essential
Definitions:
-
(1)
(imperative) essential and urgent
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Much less commonly, in grammar, imperative describes a sentence that expresses a command or request.