Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Definitive

De-fin′i-tive

,
Adj.
[L.
definitivus
: cf. F.
définitif
.]
1.
Determinate; positive; final; conclusive; unconditional; express.
A strict and
definitive
truth.
Sir T. Browne.
Some
definitive
. . . scheme of reconciliation.
Prescott.
2.
Limiting; determining;
as, a
definitive
word
.
3.
Determined; resolved.
[Obs.]
Shak.

De-fin′i-tive

,
Noun.
(Gram.)
A word used to define or limit the extent of the signification of a common noun, such as the definite article, and some pronouns.
Definitives . . . are commonly called by grammarians articles. . . . They are of two kinds, either those properly and strictly so called, or else pronominal articles, such as this, that, any, other, some, all, no, none, etc.
Harris (Hermes).

Webster 1828 Edition


Definitive

DEFINITIVE

,
Adj.
1.
Limiting the extent; determinate; positive; express; as a definitive term.
2.
Limiting; ending; determining; final; opposed to conditional, provisional, or interlocutory; as a definitive sentence or decree.

DEFINITIVE

,
Noun.
In grammar, an adjective used to define or limit the extent of the signification of an appelative or common noun. Such are the Latin hic, ille, ipse; the, this and that, in English; le, la, les, in French; il, la, lo in Italian. Thus tree is an appellative or common noun; the tree, this tree, that tree, designate a particular tree, determinate or known. Homo signifies man; hic homo, ille homo, a particular man, &c. But in some languages, the definitives have lost their original use, in a great degree; as in the Greek and French. Thus La force de la vertu, must be rendered in English, the force of virtue, not the force of the virtue. The first la is a definitive; the last has no definitive effect.

Definition 2024


définitive

définitive

See also: definitive

French

Adjective

définitive

  1. feminine singular of définitif