COMMENT: Some people feel that to use ‘to seriously consider a proposal’ is wrong, es- pecially in writing, and that you should use ‘to consider a proposal seriously’ or ‘seri- ously to consider a proposal’. In speech, avoiding a split infinitive can sound clumsy or too formal: ‘I used to really enjoy it’ is more usual than ‘I used really to enjoy it’

Of, relating to, or associated with words, Expressed in spoken rather than written words; oral, Relating to, having the nature or function of, or derived from a verb, noun_ In grammar, a noun derived from a verb and sharing in its senses and constructions; a verbal noun, A verbal noun or adjective, grammar A verb form which does not function as a predicate, or a word derived from a verb. In English, infinitives, participles and gerunds are verbals, verb_ transitive, UK, Australia To fabricate a confession

Lacking the necessary power, authority, or means; not able; incapable, Not able; not having sufficient strength, means, knowledge, skill, or the like; impotent; weak; helpless; incapable; -- now usually followed by an infinitive or an adverbial phrase, Not able; lacking a certain ability

Used similarly to indicate determination or obligation, particularly in the second and third persons singular and plural, Used in questions to suggest a possible future action, auxiliary Used before a verb in the infinitive to show, Something that will take place or exist in the future, Something that is inevitable

Used to call attention to one's impression or understanding about something, especially in weakening the force of a following infinitive, To appear, or to appear to be; to have a show or semblance; to present an appearance; to look; to strike one's apprehension or fancy as being; to be taken as, it appears; it is understood as true; it is said, transitive verb_ obsolete To befit; to beseem, verb_ give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect, appear to exist, seem to be true, probable, or apparent

To feel strong dislike for or hostility toward, To be disinclined (to do something) out of politeness or a need to apologize, To feel hatred, transitive verb_ To be very unwilling; followed by an infinitive, or a substantive clause with that, verb_ dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards, noun_ the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action, Hatred, Strong aversion coupled with desire that evil should befall the person toward whom the feeling is directed; as exercised toward things, intense dislike; hatred; detestation; -- opposed to love

To come about as a consequence; result, To encounter something by chance, Used with the impersonal subject it and a following clause or infinitive to indicate the occurrence of a usually unexpected or chance event, verb_ To occur unexpectedly, by chance or with a low probability, To encounter by chance, adverb_ maybe, perhaps

being precisely fitting and right, in harmony with the spirit of particular persons or occasion, noun_ Anything used in fitting up, The act of trying on clothes to inspect or adjust the fit, verb_ Present participle of fit, informal, US, with infinitive Ready, preparing

To look forward to the probable occurrence or appearance of, To consider reasonable or due, transitive verb_ obsolete To wait; to stay, To look for (mentally); to look forward to, as to something that is believed to be about to happen or come; to have a previous apprehension of, whether of good or evil; to look for with some confidence; to anticipate; -- often followed by an infinitive, sometimes by a clause (with, or without, that), verb_ To consider obligatory or required, to be pregnant, to consider a baby due, look forward to the probable occurrence of

Discourse; conversation, A dance resembling a cotillion, a characteristic feature of which was the introduction of confidential or coquettish conversation, That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion; view; aim; design; intention; plan, verb_ propose or intend, reach a decision, transitive verb_ To intend or resolve, To propose, as an aim, to one's self; to determine upon, as some end or object to be accomplished; to intend; to design; to resolve; -- often followed by an infinitive or dependent clause, intransitive verb_ obsolete To have a purpose or intention; to discourse