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.
De*ter"mine (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Determined (?); p.
pr. & vb. n. Determining.]
[F. déterminer, 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.
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