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.
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.
