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prettygoodwordmirative (MIR-uh-tiv) - n., a grammatical mood that expresses (surprise at) new information or unexpected revelations.
Not a distinct verbal mood in most languages, and there is some debate over whether it exists in any language separate from moods expressing evidentiality. For example, Albanian has distinct mirative forms expressing surprise, but they can also express doubt, irony, or that something is reported secondhand. Coined either on French models or from Midlands English dialect mirate, an alternate shortened from of admire.
---L.
Not a distinct verbal mood in most languages, and there is some debate over whether it exists in any language separate from moods expressing evidentiality. For example, Albanian has distinct mirative forms expressing surprise, but they can also express doubt, irony, or that something is reported secondhand. Coined either on French models or from Midlands English dialect mirate, an alternate shortened from of admire.
---L.
