▪ I. determinate, ppl. a. and n.
(dɪˈtɜːmɪnət)
[ad. L. dētermināt-us, pa. pple. of dētermināre to determine.]
That has been or is determined: in the chief senses of the verb.
A. as pa. pple. = determined. Obs. or arch.
| c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. i. §21 Sterres fixes with hir longitudes & latitudes determynat. Ibid. ii. §18 heading, To knowe the degrees of the longitudes of fixe sterres after that they ben determinat in thin astrolabie. 1471 Ripley Comp. Alch. Ep. in Ashm. (1652) 111 By Raymond and others determynate. 1560 in Strype Ann. Ref. I. xvii. 216 So that their causes be determinate within three weeks. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. lxxxvii, My bonds in thee are all determinate. 1885 Bridges Nero ii. iii. 8/2 The seasons, lady, Of divination are determinate By stars and special omens. |
B. adj.
1. a. Definitely bound or limited, in time, space, extent, position, character, or nature; definite, fixed; clearly defined or individualized; distinct, as opposed to vague, undefined, or indefinite.
| c 1386 Chaucer Friar's T. 161 Han ye figure thanne determinat In helle ther ye been in youre estat? 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xiii. i. (Tollem. MS.), Water haþ no determinate qualite, noþer coloure, noþer sauoure. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 287 A determinate place in the ryuer that is abowte Lincoln. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 721/2 The saluacion of any determinate persone yet liuying. 1548 Hall Chron. 245 b, Taken and concluded for a determinate season. 1613 J. Salkeld Treat. Angels 22 They seeme to define some determinate number of Angels. 1626 Bacon Sylva §602 Plants are all figurate and determinate, which inanimate Bodies are not. 1662 Hobbes Seven Prob. Wks. 1845 VII. 16 A certain and determinate distance. 1705 Berkeley Commonpl. Bk. Wks. 1871 IV. 443 The clear and determinate meaning of my words. 1767 Blackstone Comm. II. 140 The possession of lands or tenements, for some determinate period. 1777 Priestley Matt. & Spir. (1782) I. i. 11 [It] must be..round, or square, or of some other determinate form. 1818 Hallam Mid. Ages (1841) I. vii. 522 Consecrated bishop without any determinate see. 1845 H. Rogers Ess. I. iii. 102 He has clothed the determinate quantities of arithmetic in the universal symbols of algebra. 1852 ― Ecl. Faith (1853) 201 In time, my doubts, as usual, assumed a determinate shape. 1871 B. Stewart Heat §112 Determinate vapour pressure corresponds to determinate temperature. 1875 Maine Hist. Inst. xii. 351 The sovereign is a determinate human superior. |
b. Limited, restricted, finite: opposed to infinite, unbounded.
| 1586 J. Ferne Blaz. Gentrie 33 The determinate glory of an earthly prince. 1604 T. Wright Passions ii. i. 50 Our soule being of a determinate power and activitie cannot attend exactly to twoo vehement and intensive operations together. 1608 J. King Serm. St. Mary's 6 A superiority..over limited and determinate chardges. |
c. Math. Having a fixed value or magnitude. (Opp. to indeterminate); determinate number, determinate problem: see quots.
| 1722 Wollaston Relig. Nat. i. 13 As determinate and immutable as any ratio's are in mathematics. 1727–51 Chambers Cycl., Determinate problem, is that which has but one, or at least but a certain number of solutions, in contradistinction to an indeterminate problem, which admits of infinite solutions. Ibid. s.v. Number, A determinate Number is that referred to some given unit; as a ternary, or three; which is what we properly call a number. 1879 Thomson & Tait Nat. Phil. I. i. §327 This problem is essentially determinate, but generally has multiple solutions. 1885 Watson & Burbury Electr. & Magn. 59 There exists one determinate function u which has the given value at each point of S. |
d. Bot. Of inflorescence: In which the terminal flower bud opens first, followed by those on the lateral branches; definite, centrifugal.
| 1880 Gray Struct. Bot. v. 144 The kinds of Inflorescence are all reducible to two types..Indeterminate and Determinate. |
2. Settled, fixed, so as not to vary.
| 1526–34 Tindale Acts ii. 23 The determinat counsell and foreknoweledge of God. 1543–4 Act 35 Hen. VIII, c. 9 The which order..shall stande..for a full determinate order. 1559 Primer in Priv. Prayers (1851) 10 A determinate fourme of praiyng. 1581 G. Pettie Guazzo's Civ. Conv. i. (1586) 21 There can be no certaine and determinate science, from particular to particular. 1625 K. Long tr. Barclay's Argenis ii. xvii. 120 To what end is the freedome of man, if he cannot avoid the determinate order of the starres? 1726 Butler Serm. Hum. Nat. ii, Virtue and religion..require..that every action be directed by some determinate rule. 1855 G. Brimley Ess. 22 (Tennyson) Smitten with a determinate aversion to popularity. 1861 Mill Utilit. i. 4 There should be a determinate order of precedence among them. |
3. Finally determined upon or decided; expressing a final decision; definitive; conclusive, final.
| 1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII, c. 12 The determinate and plaine iudgementes of the said sondrie vniuersitees. 1540–1 Elyot Image Gov. 25 Not onely myne opinion herein, but also my determynate sentence. 1566 Painter Pal. Pleas. I. 29 To consulte vppon some determinate aunswere. 1589 Nashe in Greene's Menaphon Pref. (Arb.) 14, I had rather referre it, as a disputatiue plea to diuines than set it downe as a determinate position. 1609 Bible (Douay) Jer. xv. Comm., He confirmeth the same determinate sentence of their punishment. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) III. v. iii. 303 The Reasonableness of a proportionate Taste, and determinate Choice. 1803 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. II. 151 note, No determinate reply could be given to the letter. |
4. Determined upon, intended.
| 1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. i. 235 To drive him from his determinat purpose. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. ii. i. 11 My determinate voyage is meere extrauagancie. |
5. Fixed in mind or purpose, determined, resolved, resolute.
| 1587 Holinshed Chron. II. Hist. Scot. 316/1 That thing the heart thought and was determinat to do. 1598 Barret Theor. Warres i. i. 8 Men..of determinate minds and courage. 1686 F. Spence tr. Varillas' Ho. Medicis 309 The most active and determinate adventurer of his age. 1727 Fielding Love in Sev. Masq. Wks. 1775 I. 46 Nor am I perfectly determinate what species of animals to assign him to. 1779–81 Johnson L.P., Prior Wks. III. 143 A Tory so ardent and determinate that he did not willingly consort with men of different opinions. 1827 Carlyle Misc. (1857) I. 58 Men of cool judgment, and determinate energetic character. |
C. n.
1. Biol. (See determinant B. n. 4.)
| 1893 Parker & Rönnfeldt tr. Weismann's Germ-Plasm i. i. 58 Similar hereditary parts or determinates may be observed in butterflies, in which the colours on the wings often form very complicated lines and spots of slight extent but of great constancy. |
2. Philos. (See quot.)
| 1921 [see determinable n.]. |
▪ II. † deˈterminate, v. Obs.
[f. ppl. stem of L. dētermināre: see prec.]
1. trans. To determine in time, space, or compass; to terminate, end, bound, limit.
| 1563 Winȝet Four Scoir Thre Quest. Wks. 1888 I. 125 Gif we..limitatis and determinatis nocht the wisdum of God be our phantasie. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, i. iii. 150 The slye slow [Fol. 2, flye slow] houres shall not determinate The datelesse limit of thy deere exile. a 1638 Mede Rem. Apoc. Wks. (1672) iii. 602 Who would have them [prophetic months] taken for bare days, and determinated in the persecution of Antiochus. 1671 Crowne Juliana Ep. Ded., I have nothing to determinate my sight, but a bright and serene sky. |
2. To determine or decide (a controversy or issue).
| 1647 H. More Song of Soul ii. iii. iv. vii, But let more hardy wits that truth determinate. 1653 ― Antid. Ath. i. ix. §4. 27 They do plainly determinate the controversy. 1715 J. Barker Exilius I. 83 Sent for..to give my determinating Voice before the Senate. |
b. intr. To decide, come to a decision.
| 1639 Marquis of Hamilton Explan. Oath & Covenant 15 To treat, consult, or determinate in any matter of state. 1652 Earl of Monmouth tr. Bentivoglio's Hist. Relat. 6 The absolute authority of determinating residing in the chief magistracies of every City. |
3. trans. To ordain, appoint.
| 1636 E. Dacres tr. Machiavel's Disc. Livy I. 83 The free government propounds honours and rewards upon some worthy and determinated occasions. 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 151 Although nature and every naturall agent be..determinated to one effect. |
4. To direct to some end; to determine the course of; to guide authoritatively or decisively.
| 1626 Fenner Hidden Manna (in Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. xxv.), A determinating of the very will. 1653 H. More Antid. Ath. i. xi. (1662) 35 To determinate the course of the Spirits into this or that part of the Body. 1659 Pearson Creed I. 43 If we should apprehend more Gods than one, I know not what could determinate us in any instant to the actual adoration of any one. a 1683 Whichcote Disc. (1703) III. 36 'Tis no disparagement to the Highest and wisest to be ruled and determinated by the reason of things. 1686 Goad Celest. Bodies i. xii. 61 This Aspect, apt to cause Winds, is apt also to determinate them to the West and to the South. |
5. To fix upon definitely, define, individualize, identify.
| 1681 H. More Exp. Dan. iv. Notes 123 The person is determinated in Artaxerxes. 1681 Glanvill Sadducismus ii. 237 Though the Sir-name of the party be wanting, yet he is determinated so by other circumstances. |
6. To render determinate or definite.
| 1672 Gregory in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) II. 236 The most ready general method..for determinating all equations. |
7. To ascertain definitely.
| 1665–6 Phil. Trans. I. 297 The more precise determinating of the Difference of Meridians. 1788 Priestley Lect. Hist. ii. xii. 96 As nearly..as their coarse observations would enable them to determinate. |
Hence deˈterminated ppl. a., deˈterminating vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1626 [See sense 4]. 1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. i. iii. (1636) 137 A prefixed and determinated time of monthes or yeeres. a 1693 Urquhart Rabelais iii. xliii. 353 His final judging and determinating of Suits of Law, by the meer Chance..of the Dice. 1715 [See sense 2]. |