Definition of interrogative

The word "interrogative" has a fascinating history. It comes from the Latin words "interrogare," meaning "to ask questions," and the suffix "-tive," which forms an adjective. In the 15th century, the word "interrogative" was borrowed into Middle English from Old French, where it was spelled "interrogatif." In Latin, "interrogare" is derived from "inter," meaning "between" or "among," and "rogare," which means "to ask." So, "interrogare" literally means "to ask between" or "to ask among," implying a questioning or inquiring process. Today, the word "interrogative" refers to a question word or phrase that asks for information, such as "who," "what," "when," or "why."