determinate
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /dɪˈtɜːmɪnət/
ipa: /dɪˈtɜːmɪneɪt/
Etymology: From Middle English determinate, determynat, determinat, from Latin dēterminātus, perfect passive participle of dēterminō (“I limit, set bounds”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more.
Senses: examples: text: Quantity of words and a determinate number of feet.
ref: 1668, John Dryden, Essay of Dramatick Poesie:
text: […] on account of his responsibility to Norman and Marigold, and on account of his now determinate age, he considered himself ineligible for more dangerous service.
ref: 1938, Xavier Herbert, chapter VIII, in Capricornia, page 122:
glosses: Distinct, clearly defined.
examples: text: […] hym have ye taken by the hondes of vnrightewes perſones / after he was delivered by the determinat counſell and fore knoweledge of God / and have crucified and ſlayne hym / […]
ref: 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts :[23], folio clv, verso:
text: [S]he watched impatiently for the dawn of day, with that determinate purpoſe which generally inſures ſucceſs.
ref: 1798, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, “[Maria: or, The] Wrongs of Woman”, in W[illiam] Godwin, editor, Posthumous Works of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. […], volume I, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […]; and G[eorge,] G[eorge] and J[ohn] Robinson, […], →OCLC, chapter VI, page 129:
glosses: Fixed, determined, set, unvarying.
topics: biology
natural-sciences
glosses: Of growth: ending once a genetically predetermined structure has formed.
examples: ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 2:–23:
english: The determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.
translation: The determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.
bold_translation_offsets: 4
15
glosses: Conclusive; decisive; positive.
examples: text: My determinate voyage.
ref: c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
text: Francesca saw the danger of allowing this apathy to increase, and would fain have laid down some determinate scheme, and sought some fixed home and employment, which must have brought its occupations, its habits, and, finally, its interests.
ref: 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XI, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 114:
glosses: Determined or resolved upon.
examples: text: More determinate to do than skilfull how to do.
ref: a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
english: The New Arcadia
translation: The New Arcadia
glosses: Of determined purpose; resolute.
Derived terms: determinately
determinateness
determinate state
determinate verb
undeterminate
Related terms: determinacy
determination
determine
deterministic