Langimage
English

indefinitely

|in/def/i/nite/ly|

B2

/ɪnˈdɛfɪnətli/

(indefinite)

vague quality

Base FormAdverb
indefiniteindefinitely
Etymology
Etymology Information

'indefinitely' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'indefinitus,' where 'in-' meant 'not' and 'definitus' meant 'defined.'

Historical Evolution

'indefinitus' transformed into the French word 'indéfini,' and eventually became the modern English word 'indefinite' through Middle English.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'not clearly defined,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'for an unspecified period of time.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adverb 1

for an unlimited or unspecified period of time.

The meeting was postponed indefinitely.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35