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Having certain or distinct; determinate in extent or greatness; limited; fixed; as, definite dimensions; a definite measure; a definite period or interval. Elements combine in definite proportions. Whewell.

In a definite manner; with precision; precisely; determinately.

The state of being definite; determinateness; precision; certainty.

Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an indefinite time, plan, etc. It were to be wished that . . . men would leave off that indefinite way of vouching, "the chymists say this," or "the chymists affirm that."…

In an indefinite manner or degree; without any settled limitation; vaguely; not with certainty or exactness; as, to use a word indefinitely. If the world be indefinitely extended, that is, so far as no human intellect can fancy any bound of it. Ray.

The quality of being indefinite.

An adjective, commonly called the indefinite article, and signifying one or any, but less emphatically.

To surrender or relinquish, as sovereign power; to withdraw definitely from filling or exercising, as a high office, station, dignity; as, to abdicate the throne, the crown, the papacy.

law of chemical combinations, or the fact that, to produce a complete reaction, a certain definite weight of reagent is required. -- Ac`id*i*met"ric*al, a.

t of a play; one of the principal divisions of a play or dramatic work in which a certain definite part of the action is completed.

To put off or defer to another day, or indefinitely; to postpone; to close or suspend for the day; -- commonly said of the meeting, or the action, of convened body; as, to adjourn the meeting; to adjourn a debate. It is a common practice to adjourn the reformation of their lives to a further time. Barrow. 'Tis a needfu…

The Arabic definite article answering to the English the; as, Alkoran, the Koran or the Book; alchemy, the chemistry.

This word is properly an adjective, but is commonly called the indefinite article. It is used before nouns of the singular number only, and signifies one, or any, but somewhat less emphatically. In such expressions as "twice an hour," "once an age," a shilling an ounce (see 2d A, 2), it has a distributive force, and is…

Without definite structure; as, an anhistous membrane.

(Psychol.) Not subject to conscious attention; having an indefinite, relatively passive, conscious being; characteristic of the "fringe" or "margin" of consciousness.

Any or some; any different person, indefinitely; any one else; some one else. Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth. Prov. xxvii. 2. While I am coming, another steppeth down before me. John v. 7.

One indifferently, out of an indefinite number; one indefinitely, whosoever or whatsoever it may be.

Any one out of an indefinite number of persons; anyone; any person. His Majesty could not keep any secret from anybody. Macaulay.

Expressing an indefinite comparison; -- with as or like. [Colloq. or Lowx] I fear your girl will grow as proud as anything. Richardson.

Indefinite; pertaining to the aorist tense.