c.1374, "to come to an end," also "to settle, decide," from O.Fr. determiner (12c.), from L. determinare "set limits to," from de- "off" + terminare "to mark the end or boundary," from terminus "end, limit." Sense of "coming to a firm decision" (to do something) is from 1450. Determination "quality of being resolute" is from 1822. Determinism is 1846 in theology (lack of free will); 1876 in general sense of "the doctrine that everything that happens is determined by a necessary chain of causation."
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study; "find the product of two numbers"; "The physicist who found the elusive particle won the Nobel Prize"
2.
shape or influence; give direction to; "experience often determines ability"; "mold public opinion"
3.
fix conclusively or authoritatively; "set the rules"
4.
decide upon or fix definitely; "fix the variables"; "specify the parameters" [syn: specify]
5.
reach, make, or come to a decision about something; "We finally decided after lengthy deliberations" [syn: decide]
6.
fix in scope; fix the boundaries of; "the tree determines the border of the property"
7.
settle conclusively; come to terms; "We finally settled the argument" [syn: settle]
8.
find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort; "I want to see whether she speaks French"; "See whether it works"; "find out if he speaks Russian"; "Check whether the train leaves on time"
Main Entry: de·ter·mine Pronunciation: di-'t&r-m&n Function: transitive verb Inflected Forms: de·ter·mined;
de·ter·min·ing/-'t&rm-(&-)ni[ng]/ 1 a: to obtain definite information about with regard to quantity, character, magnitude, or
location <determine the ionic concentration> <determine the creatinine in blood serum> b: to discover the taxonomic position or the generic and specific
names of 2: to bring about the determination of <determine the fate of a cell>
De*ter"mi*na*ble\, a. [L. determinabilis finite. See Determine, v. t.] Capable of being determined, definitely ascertained, decided upon, or brought to a conclusion. Not wholly determinable from the grammatical use of the words. --South.
De*ter"mi*nate\, a. [L. determinatus, p. p. of determinare. See Determine.]1. Having defined limits; not uncertain or arbitrary; fixed; established; definite. Quantity of words and a determinate number of feet. --Dryden. 2. Conclusive; decisive; positive. The determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. --Acts ii. 23. 3. Determined or resolved upon. [Obs.] My determinate voyage. --Shak. 4. Of determined purpose; resolute. [Obs.] More determinate to do than skillful how to do. --Sir P. Sidney. Determinate inflorescence (Bot.), that in which the flowering commences with the terminal bud of a stem, which puts a limit to its growth; -- also called centrifugal inflorescence. Determinate problem (Math.), a problem which admits of a limited number of solutions. Determinate quantities, Determinate equations (Math.), those that are finite in the number of values or solutions, that is, in which the conditions of the problem or equation determine the number.
De*ter"mi*nate\, v. t. To bring to an end; to determine. See Determine. [Obs.] The sly, slow hours shall not determinate The dateless limit of thy dear exile. --Shak.
De*ter"mine\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Determined; p. pr. & vb. n. Determining.] [F. d['e]terminer, L. determinare, determinatum; de + terminare limit, terminus limit. See Term.]1. To fix the boundaries of; to mark off and separate. [God] hath determined the times before appointed. --Acts xvii. 26. 2. To set bounds to; to fix the determination of; to limit; to bound; to bring to an end; to finish. The knowledge of men hitherto hath been determined by the view or sight. --Bacon. Now, where is he that will not stay so long Till his friend sickness hath determined me? --Shak. 3. To fix the form or character of; to shape; to prescribe imperatively; to regulate; to settle. The character of the soul is determined by the character of its God. --J. Edwards. Something divinely beautiful . . . that at some time or other might influence or even determine her course of life. --W. Black. 4. To fix the course of; to impel and direct; -- with a remoter object preceded by to; as, another's will determined me to this course. 5. To ascertain definitely; to find out the specific character or name of; to assign to its true place in a system; as, to determine an unknown or a newly discovered plant or its name. 6. To bring to a conclusion, as a question or controversy; to settle authoritative or judicial sentence; to decide; as, the court has determined the cause. 7. To resolve on; to have a fixed intention of; also, to cause to come to a conclusion or decision; to lead; as, this determined him to go immediately. 8. (Logic) To define or limit by adding a differentia. 9. (Physical Sciences) To ascertain the presence, quantity, or amount of; as, to determine the parallax; to determine the salt in sea water.
De*ter"mine\, v. i. 1. To come to an end; to end; to terminate. [Obs.] He who has vented a pernicious doctrine or published an ill book must know that his life determine not together. --South. Estates may determine on future contingencies. --Blackstone. 2. To come to a decision; to decide; to resolve; -- often with on. "Determine on some course." --Shak. He shall pay as the judges determine. --Ex. xxi. 22.
Term\, n. [F. terme, L. termen, -inis, terminus, a boundary limit, end; akin to Gr. ?, ?. See Thrum a tuft, and cf. Terminus, Determine, Exterminate.]1. That which limits the extent of anything; limit; extremity; bound; boundary. Corruption is a reciprocal to generation, and they two are as nature's two terms, or boundaries. --Bacon. 2. The time for which anything lasts; any limited time; as, a term of five years; the term of life. 3. In universities, schools, etc., a definite continuous period during which instruction is regularly given to students; as, the school year is divided into three terms. 4. (Geom.) A point, line, or superficies, that limits; as, a line is the term of a superficies, and a superficies is the term of a solid. 5. (Law) A fixed period of time; a prescribed duration; as: (a) The limitation of an estate; or rather, the whole time for which an estate is granted, as for the term of a life or lives, or for a term of years. (b) A space of time granted to a debtor for discharging his obligation. (c) The time in which a court is held or is open for the trial of causes. --Bouvier. Note: In England, there were formerly four terms in the year, during which the superior courts were open: Hilary term, beginning on the 11th and ending on the 31st of January; Easter term, beginning on the 15th of April, and ending on the 8th of May; Trinity term, beginning on the 22d day of May, and ending on the 12th of June; Michaelmas term, beginning on the 2d and ending on the 25th day of November. The rest of the year was called vacation. But this division has been practically abolished by the Judicature Acts of 1873, 1875, which provide for the more convenient arrangement of the terms and vacations. In the United States, the terms to be observed by the tribunals of justice are prescribed by the statutes of Congress and of the several States. 6. (Logic) The subject or the predicate of a proposition; one of the three component parts of a syllogism, each one of which is used twice. The subject and predicate of a proposition are, after Aristotle, together called its terms or extremes. --Sir W. Hamilton. Note: The predicate of the conclusion is called the major term, because it is the most general, and the subject of the conclusion is called the minor term, because it is less general. These are called the extermes; and the third term, introduced as a common measure between them, is called the mean or middle term. Thus in the following syllogism, -- Every vegetable is combustible; Every tree is a vegetable; Therefore every tree is combustible, - combustible, the predicate of the conclusion, is the major term; tree is the minor term; vegetable is the middle term. 7. A word or expression; specifically, one that has a precisely limited meaning in certain relations and uses, or is peculiar to a science, art, profession, or the like; as, a technical term. "Terms quaint of law." --Chaucer. In painting, the greatest beauties can not always be expressed for want of terms. --Dryden. 8. (Arch.) A quadrangular pillar, adorned on the top with the figure of a head, as of a man, woman, or satyr; -- called also terminal figure. See Terminus, n., 2 and 3. Note: The pillar part frequently tapers downward, or is narrowest at the base. Terms rudely carved were formerly used for landmarks or boundaries. --Gwilt. 9. (Alg.) A member of a compound quantity; as, a or b in a + b; ab or cd in ab - cd. 10. pl. (Med.) The menses. 11. pl. (Law) Propositions or promises, as in contracts, which, when assented to or accepted by another, settle the contract and bind the parties; conditions. 12. (Law) In Scotland, the time fixed for the payment of rents. Note: Terms legal and conventional in Scotland correspond to quarter days in England and Ireland. There are two legal terms -- Whitsunday, May 15, and Martinmas, Nov. 11; and two conventional terms -- Candlemas, Feb. 2, and Lammas day, Aug. 1. --Mozley & W. 13. (Naut.) A piece of carved work placed under each end of the taffrail. --J. Knowels. In term, in set terms; in formal phrase. [Obs.] I can not speak in term. --Chaucer. Term fee (Law) (a), a fee by the term, chargeable to a suitor, or by law fixed and taxable in the costs of a cause for each or any term it is in court. Terms of a proportion (Math.), the four members of which it is composed. To bring to terms, to compel (one) to agree, assent, or submit; to force (one) to come to terms. To make terms, to come to terms; to make an agreement: to agree. Syn: Limit; bound; boundary; condition; stipulation; word; expression. Usage: Term, Word. These are more frequently interchanged than almost any other vocables that occur of the language. There is, however, a difference between them which is worthy of being kept in mind. Word is generic; it denotes an utterance which represents or expresses our thoughts and feelings. Term originally denoted one of the two essential members of a proposition in logic, and hence signifies a word of specific meaning, and applicable to a definite class of objects. Thus, we may speak of a scientific or a technical term, and of stating things in distinct terms. Thus we say, "the term minister literally denotes servant;" "an exact definition of terms is essential to clearness of thought;" "no term of reproach can sufficiently express my indignation;" "every art has its peculiar and distinctive terms," etc. So also we say, "purity of style depends on the choice of words, and precision of style on a clear understanding of the terms used." Term is chiefly applied to verbs, nouns, and adjectives, these being capable of standing as terms in a logical proposition; while prepositions and conjunctions, which can never be so employed, are rarely spoken of as terms, but simply as words.
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