determinate
|de-ter-mi-nate|
🇺🇸
/dɪˈtɝmɪnət/
🇬🇧
/dɪˈtɜːmɪnət/
having fixed limits; definite
Etymology
'determinate' originates from Latin, specifically the past participle 'determinatus' of 'determinare', where 'de-' meant 'completely' or 'from' and 'terminare' meant 'to bound, to limit'.
'determinatus' in Latin passed into Medieval/Low Latin and Middle French forms and then into Middle English as 'determinate', eventually becoming the modern English 'determinate'.
Initially it meant 'bounded' or 'set limits', and over time it evolved to the modern senses of 'definite' or 'clearly limited'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
(rare, historical) A fixed or determined thing; historically used to mean a fixed period or fixed quantity.
In older legal writings, a determinate was contrasted with an indeterminate term.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
clearly fixed or decided; definite and precise.
The committee arrived at a determinate plan after several meetings.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
(formal, technical) Having exact or well-defined limits; not indeterminate (used in law, mathematics, philosophy).
The statute provides for a determinate sentence for that particular offense.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/02 21:01