Etymology : Middle English, from Latin determinatus, past participle of determinare
Pronunciation : di-'t&r-m&-n&t
Function : adjective
Date : 14th century
1. fixed, definite, established. determinate\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.determinate \de*ter"mi*nate\ , a. [l. determinatus, p. p. of determinare. see:
determine.].
2. having defined limits; not uncertain or arbitrary; fixed; established; definite. quantity of words and a determinate number of feet.
3. conclusive; decisive; positive. the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of god. i.
4. 3. determined or resolved upon. [obs.] my determinate voyage.
5. of determined purpose; resolute. [obs.] more determinate to do than skillful how to do. 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 inflorescencedeterminate 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.determinate adj.
6. precisely determined or limited or defined; especially fixed by rule or by a specific and constant cause; "a determinate distance"; "a determinate number"; "determinate variations in animals" [ant: indeterminate].
7. (botany) not continuing to grow indefinitely at the apex; "determinate growth" [ant: indeterminate].
8. supplying or being a final or conclusive settlement; "a definitive verdict"; "a determinate answer to the problem" [syn: definitive].
9. Having defined limits; not uncertain or arbitrary; fixed; established; definite.
10. Conclusive; decisive; positive.
11. Determined or resolved upon.
12. Of determined purpose; resolute.
13. To bring to an end; to determine.
14. See Determine. precisely determined or limited or defined; especially fixed by rule or by a specific and constant cause; "a determinate distance"; "a determinate number"; "determinate variations in animals" not continuing to grow indefinitely at the apex; "determinate growth".
15. Determinate means fixed and definite. a contract for the exclusive possession of land for some determinate period. ¡Ù indeterminate. definite or with an exact limit  indeterminate.