De*cid"ed (?), a. 1.
Free from ambiguity; unequivocal; unmistakable; unquestionable;
clear; evident; as, a decided advantage. "A more
decided taste for science." Prescott.
2. Free from doubt or wavering; determined;
of fixed purpose; fully settled; positive; resolute; as, a
decided opinion or purpose.
Syn. -- Decided, Decisive. We call a thing
decisive when it has the power or quality of deciding; as, a
decisive battle; we speak of it as decided when it is
so fully settled as to leave no room for doubt; as, a decided
preference, a decided aversion. Hence, a decided
victory is one about which there is no question; a decisive
victory is one which ends the contest. Decisive is applied
only to things; as, a decisive sentence, a decisive
decree, a decisive judgment. Decided is applied equally
to persons and things. Thus we speak of a man as decided in
his whole of conduct; and as having a decided disgust, or a
decided reluctance, to certain measures. "A politic caution, a
guarded circumspection, were among the ruling principles of our
forefathers in their most decided conduct." Burke. "The
sentences of superior judges are final, decisive, and
irrevocable. Blackstone.
