modal
adj.
1560s, term in logic, from Middle French modal and directly from Medieval Latin modalis "of or pertaining to a mode," from Latin modus "measure, manner, mode" (see mode, n.1). Musical sense is from 1590s.
〔李〕[mod;-ala.] a.形式的； 方式的 [语法]情态的 ←mod (L modus)=manner, measure 方式，分寸