English
definitive
Definitive comes from Middle French définitif.
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600définitif
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1603–1604definitive
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600définitif
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1603–1604definitive
Earliest quotation: c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure: “Never crave him. We are definitive.”
Every English word from Middle French définitif
Today it means
adj Explicitly defined.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle French définitif / definitive