decide - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

de·cide

Audio Help [di-sahyd] Pronunciation Key verb, -cid·ed, -cid·ing.

–verb (used with object)

1.	to solve or conclude (a question, controversy, or struggle) by giving victory to one side: The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff.

2.	to determine or settle (something in dispute or doubt): to decide an argument.

3.	to bring (a person) to a decision; persuade or convince: The new evidence decided him.

–verb (used without object)

4.	to settle something in dispute or doubt: The judge decided in favor of the plaintiff.

5.	to make a judgment or determine a preference; come to a conclusion.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME deciden < MF decider < L décīdere lit., to cut off, equiv. to dé- de- + -cīdere (comb. form of caedere to cut)

]

—Related forms

de·cid·er, noun

—Synonyms 1. Decide, resolve, determine imply settling upon a purpose and being able to adhere to it. To decide is to make up one's mind as to what shall be done and the way to do it: He decided to go today. To resolve is to show firmness of purpose: He resolved to ask for a promotion. To determine is to make up one's mind and then to stick to a fixed or settled purpose: determined to maintain his position at all costs.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
decide

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

de·cide Audio Help   (dĭ-sīd') Pronunciation Key
v.   de·cid·ed, de·cid·ing, de·cides

v.   tr.

1. To settle conclusively all contention or uncertainty about: decide a case; decided the dispute in favor of the workers.
2. To make up one's mind about: decide what to do.
To influence or determine the outcome of: A few votes decided the election.
To cause to make or reach a decision.

v. intr.

To pronounce a judgment; announce a verdict.
To make up one's mind.

[Middle English deciden, from Old French decider, from Latin dēcīdere, to cut off, decide : dē-, de- + caedere, to cut; see kaə-id- in Indo-European roots.]

de·cid·a·bil'i·ty n., de·cid'a·ble adj., de·cid'er n.

Synonyms: These verbs mean to come to a decision. Decide is the least specific: "If two laws conflict with each other, the courts must decide on the operation of each" (John Marshall).
Determine often involves somewhat narrower issues: A jury will determine the verdict.
Settle stresses finality of decision: "The lama waved a hand to show that the matter was finally settled in his mind" (Rudyard Kipling).
Rule implies that the decision is handed down by someone in authority: The committee ruled that changes in the curriculum should be implemented.
Conclude suggests that a decision, opinion, or judgment has been arrived at after careful consideration: She concluded that the criticism was unjust.
Resolve stresses the exercise of choice in making a firm decision: I resolved to lose weight.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
decide

c.1380, from O.Fr. decider, from L. decidere "to decide," lit. "to cut off," from de- "off" + cædere "to cut" (see cement). Sense is of resolving difficulties "at a stroke." Originally "to settle a dispute;" meaning "to make up one's mind" is attested from 1830. Decided in the adj. sense of "resolute" is from 1790. Decisive is 1611. A decided victory is one whose reality is not in doubt; a decisive one goes far toward settling some issue.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

decide
verb
1.	reach, make, or come to a decision about something; "We finally decided after lengthy deliberations"
2.	bring to an end; settle conclusively; "The case was decided"; "The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff"; "The father adjudicated when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance"
3.	cause to decide; "This new development finally decided me!"
4.	influence or determine; "The vote in New Hampshire often decides the outcome of the Presidential election"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
decide1 [diˈsaid] verb

to (cause to) make up one's mind
Example: I have decided to retire; What decided you against going?

Arabic:	يُقَرِّر
Chinese (Simplified):	决定
Chinese (Traditional):	決定
Czech:	rozhodnout (se); přimět
Danish:	bestemme sig for
Dutch:	(doen) besluiten
Estonian:	otsusele viima, otsustama
Finnish:	päättää
French:	(se) décider (de)
German:	entscheiden
Greek:	αποφασίζω
Hungarian:	dönt
Icelandic:	ákveða
Indonesian:	memutuskan
Italian:	decidere, far decidere*

Japanese:	決心する
Korean:	결정하다, 결심하다
Latvian:	nolemt; izšķirties (par)
Lithuanian:	nuspręsti, nutarti
Norwegian:	avgjøre, beslutte, bestemme (seg)
Polish:	decydować się, przekonywać
Portuguese (Brazil):	decidir
Portuguese (Portugal):	decidir
Romanian:	a (se) hotărî
Russian:	принимать решение
Slovak:	rozhodnúť (sa)
Slovenian:	odločiti (se)
Spanish:	decidir
Swedish:	bestämma , besluta
Turkish:	karar vermek

decide2 [diˈsaid] verb

to settle or make the result (of something) etc certain
Example: The last goal decided the match.

Arabic:	يُقَرِّر، يَبُتُّ
Chinese (Simplified):	判定
Chinese (Traditional):	判定
Czech:	rozhodnout
Danish:	afgøre
Dutch:	beslissen
Estonian:	otsustama
Finnish:	ratkaista
French:	décider (de)
German:	entscheiden
Greek:	κρίνω
Hungarian:	eldönt
Icelandic:	gera út um
Indonesian:	memastikan
Italian:	decidere

Japanese:	決める
Korean:	결정하다
Latvian:	izlemt; izšķirt
Lithuanian:	nulemti
Norwegian:	avgjøre
Polish:	rozstrzygać
Portuguese (Brazil):	decidir
Portuguese (Portugal):	decidir
Romanian:	a decide
Russian:	решать
Slovak:	rozhodnúť
Slovenian:	odločiti
Spanish:	decidir
Swedish:	avgöra
Turkish:	belirlemek

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Decide

De*cide"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decided; p. pr. & vb. n. Deciding.] [L. dec[=i]dere; de- + caedere to cut, cut off; prob. akin to E. shed, v.: cf. F. d['e]cider. Cf. Decision.]

1. To cut off; to separate. [Obs.]

Our seat denies us traffic here; The sea, too near, decides us from the rest. --Fuller.

2. To bring to a termination, as a question, controversy, struggle, by giving the victory to one side or party; to render judgment concerning; to determine; to settle.

So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it. --1 Kings xx. 40.

The quarrel toucheth none but us alone; Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then. --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Decide

De*cide"\, v. i. To determine; to form a definite opinion; to come to a conclusion; to give decision; as, the court decided in favor of the defendant.

Who shall decide, when doctors disagree? --Pope.

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