English
definite
Definite comes from Latin dēfīnītus ‘limited, terminated’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēfīnītus‘limited, terminated’
- Englishearliest quotation 1611definite
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēfīnītus‘limited, terminated’
- Englishearliest quotation 1611definite
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Tragedie of Cymbeline: “[…] idiots in this case of favour would Be…”
Every English word from Latin dēfīnītus
Today it means
adj Having distinct limits.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin dēfīnītus / definite