Nearby Words

deliberate

[adj. dih-lib-er-it; v. dih-lib-uh-reyt] Example Sentences Origin

de·lib·er·ate

[adj. dih-lib-er-it; v. dih-lib-uh-reyt] adjective, verb, -at·ed, -at·ing.
adjective
1.
carefully weighed or considered; studied; intentional: a deliberate lie.
2.
characterized by deliberation; careful or slow in deciding: a deliberate decision.
3.
leisurely and steady in movement or action; slow and even; unhurried: a deliberate step.
verb (used with object)
4.
to weigh in the mind; consider: to deliberate a question.

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Deliberate is one of our favorite verbs.
So is kibitz. Does it mean:
chat, to converse
to bark; yelp.
verb (used without object)
5.
to think carefully or attentively; reflect: She deliberated for a long time before giving her decision.
6.
to consult or confer formally: The jury deliberated for three hours.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin dēlīberātus (past participle of dēlīberāre to consider), equivalent to dē- de- + līber(āre) to balance, weigh (derivative of lībra balance, scales) + -ātus -ate1

de·lib·er·ate·ly, adverb
de·lib·er·ate·ness, noun
de·lib·er·a·tor, noun
non·de·lib·er·ate, adjective
non·de·lib·er·ate·ly, adverb
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non·de·lib·er·ate·ness, noun
o·ver·de·lib·er·ate, verb, -at·ed, -at·ing.
o·ver·de·lib·er·ate, adjective
o·ver·de·lib·er·ate·ly, adverb
o·ver·de·lib·er·ate·ness, noun
pre·de·lib·er·ate, verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.
pre·de·lib·er·ate, adjective
pre·de·lib·er·ate·ly, adverb
qua·si-de·lib·er·ate, adjective
qua·si-de·lib·er·ate·ly, adverb
re·de·lib·er·ate, verb, -at·ed, -at·ing.
un·de·lib·er·ate, adjective
un·de·lib·er·ate·ly, adverb
un·de·lib·er·ate·ness, noun
un·de·lib·er·at·ing, adjective
un·de·lib·er·at·ing·ly, adverb
well-de·lib·er·at·ed, adjective
COLLAPSE


1. purposeful; willful. Deliberate, intentional, premeditated, voluntary refer to something not happening by chance. Deliberate is applied to what is done not hastily but with full realization of what one is doing: a deliberate attempt to evade justice. Intentional is applied to what is definitely intended or done on purpose: an intended omission. Premeditated is applied to what has been planned in advance: a premeditated crime. Voluntary is applied to what is done by a definite exercise of the will and not because of outward pressures: a voluntary enlistment. 2. methodical, thoughtful, circumspect, cautious. 3. See slow. 4. ponder. 5. cogitate, ruminate.


1. accidental. 2. impulsive, precipitate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To deliberate
Example Sentences
  • But it is not the deliberate plan.
  • The timing may well have been deliberate.
  • We should employ them to decide, not to deliberate.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
deliberate
 
adj
1.  carefully thought out in advance; planned; studied; intentional: a deliberate insult
2.  careful or unhurried in speech or action: a deliberate pace
 
vb
3.  to consider (something) deeply; ponder; think over
 
[C15: from Latin dēlīberāre to consider well, from lībrāre to weigh, from lībra scales]
 
de'liberately
 
adv
 
de'liberateness
 
n
 
de'liberator
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

deliberate
1540s, "done with careful consideration," from L. deliberatus, pp. of deliberare (see deliberation). Meaning "slow, consciously unhurried" is attested by 1590s.
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deliberate
1540s, from L. deliberat-, pp. stem of deliberare (see deliberation). Related: Deliberated (1590s); deliberately (1530s); deliberating (1640s).
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
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