Definite article

Definite article
Definite Def"i*nite, a. [L. definitis, p. p. of definire: cf. F. d['e]fini. See {Define}.] 1. Having certain or distinct; determinate in extent or greatness; limited; fixed; as, definite dimensions; a definite measure; a definite period or interval. [1913 Webster]

Elements combine in definite proportions. --Whewell. [1913 Webster]

2. Having certain limits in signification; determinate; certain; precise; fixed; exact; clear; as, a definite word, term, or expression. [1913 Webster]

3. Determined; resolved. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. Serving to define or restrict; limiting; determining; as, the definite article. [1913 Webster]

{Definite article} (Gram.), the article the, which is used to designate a particular person or thing, or a particular class of persons or things; -- also called a definitive. See {Definitive}, n. -

{Definite inflorescence}. (Bot.) See {Determinate inflorescence}, under {Determinate}.

{Law of definite proportions} (Chem.), the essential law of chemical combination that every definite compound always contains the same elements in the same proportions by weight; and, if two or more elements form more than one compound with each other, the relative proportions of each are fixed. Compare Law of multiple proportions, under {Multiple}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • definite article — definite articles N COUNT: usu the N The word the is sometimes called the definite article …   English dictionary

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  • Definite Article — This article is about the comedy album by Eddie Izzard. For the grammatical term, see article (grammar). Definite Article Video by Eddie Izzard Released 21 October 1996 Recorded …   Wikipedia

  • definite article — noun a determiner (as the in English) that indicates specificity of reference • Hypernyms: ↑article * * * noun, pl ⋯ articles [count] grammar : the word the used in English to refer to a person or thing that is identified or specified; also : a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • definite article — UK / US noun [countable, usually singular] Word forms definite article : singular definite article plural definite articles linguistics the word the in English, or a similar type of word in another language …   English dictionary

  • definite article — noun An article that introduces a noun and specifies it as the particular noun that is being considered; in English, the only definite article is the. See Also: article, indefinite article …   Wiktionary

  • Definite article reduction — (DAR) is the term used in recent linguistic work to refer to the use of vowel less forms of the definite article the in Northern dialects of English English, for example in the Yorkshire dialect and accent. DAR is often represented by dialect… …   Wikipedia

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