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"
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.
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