Note: With the auxiliary verbs may, can, must, might, could, would, and should, the simple infinitive is expressed without to; as, you may speak; they must hear, etc. The infinitive usually omits to with the verbs let, dare, do, bid, make, see, hear, need, etc.; as, let me go; you dare not tell; make him work; hear him talk, etc.
Note: In Anglo-Saxon, the simple infinitive was not preceded by to (the sign of modern simple infinitive), but it had a dative form (sometimes called the gerundial infinitive) which was preceded by to, and was chiefly employed in expressing purpose. See Gerund, 2.
Note: The gerundial ending (-anne) not only took the same form as the simple infinitive (-an), but it was confounded with the present participle in -ende, or -inde (later -inge).
INFINITIVE
In*fin"i*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: An infinitive form of the verb; a verb in the infinitive mood; the infinitive mood.
INFINITIVE
In*fin"i*tive, adv. (Gram.)
Defn: In the manner of an infinitive mood.
INFINITO
In`fi*ni"to, a. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Infinite; perpetual, as a canon whose end leads back to the beginning. See Infinite, a., 5.
INFINITUDE
In*fin"i*tude, n.