Indefinite inflorescence

Indefinite inflorescence
Indefinite In*def"i*nite, a. [L. indefinitus. See {In-} not, and {Definite}.] [1913 Webster] 1. 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. [1913 Webster]

It were to be wished that . . . men would leave off that indefinite way of vouching, ``the chymists say this,'' or ``the chymists affirm that.'' --Boyle. [1913 Webster]

The time of this last is left indefinite. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. Having no determined or certain limits; large and unmeasured, though not infinite; unlimited; as, indefinite space; the indefinite extension of a straight line. [1913 Webster]

Though it is not infinite, it may be indefinite; though it is not boundless in itself, it may be so to human comprehension. --Spectator. [1913 Webster]

3. Boundless; infinite. [R.] [1913 Webster]

Indefinite and omnipresent God, Inhabiting eternity. --W. Thompson (1745). [1913 Webster]

4. (Bot.) Too numerous or variable to make a particular enumeration important; -- said of the parts of a flower, and the like. Also, indeterminate. [1913 Webster]

{Indefinite article} (Gram.), the word a or an, used with nouns to denote any one of a common or general class.

{Indefinite inflorescence}. (Bot.) See {Indeterminate inflorescence}, under {Indeterminate}.

{Indefinite proposition} (Logic), a statement whose subject is a common term, with nothing to indicate distribution or nondistribution; as, Man is mortal.

{Indefinite term} (Logic), a negative term; as, the not-good.

Syn: Inexplicit; vague; uncertain; unsettled; indeterminate; loose; equivocal; inexact; approximate. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • indefinite inflorescence — Indeterminate In de*ter mi*nate, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley. [1913 Webster] {Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indefinite — In*def i*nite, a. [L. indefinitus. See {In } not, and {Definite}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an indefinite …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indefinite article — Indefinite In*def i*nite, a. [L. indefinitus. See {In } not, and {Definite}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indefinite proposition — Indefinite In*def i*nite, a. [L. indefinitus. See {In } not, and {Definite}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indefinite term — Indefinite In*def i*nite, a. [L. indefinitus. See {In } not, and {Definite}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Inflorescence — of Anthurium scherzerianum. An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are… …   Wikipedia

  • indefinite — indefinitely, adv. indefiniteness, n. /in def euh nit/, adj. 1. not definite; without fixed or specified limit; unlimited: an indefinite number. 2. not clearly defined or determined; not precise or exact: an indefinite boundary; an indefinite… …   Universalium

  • indefinite — /ɪnˈdɛfənət / (say in defuhnuht) adjective 1. not definite; without fixed or specified limit; unlimited: an indefinite number. 2. not clearly defined or determined; not precise. 3. Grammar not specifying precisely, as the indefinite pronoun some …  

  • acropetal inflorescence — Indeterminate In de*ter mi*nate, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley. [1913 Webster] {Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • botryose inflorescence — Indeterminate In de*ter mi*nate, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley. [1913 Webster] {Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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