Etymograph

English

definite

Definite comes from Latin dēfīnītus ‘limited, terminated’.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēfīnītus1‘limited, terminated’
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1611definite1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English definite
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1611, The Tragedie of Cymbeline: “[…] idiots in this case of favour would Be…”.

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēfīnītusWiktionary, English definite‘limited, terminated’
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1611definiteWiktionary, English definite. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1611, The Tragedie of Cymbeline: “[…] idiots in this case of favour would Be…”

Every English word from Latin dēfīnītus

Today it means

adj Having distinct limits.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “definite”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Latin dēfīnītus / definite

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