Indefinite
Translation- Indefinite
- 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.
Look at other dictionaries:
indefinite — 1> неопределенный, неясный Ex: indefinite answer неопределенный ответ 2> грам. неопределенный Ex: indefinite article неопределенный артикль 3> не имеющий четких границ Ex: indefinite time неограниченное время 4> редк. бесконечный, беспредельный,… … Новый большой англо-русский словарь
indefinite — adj. 1) неопределенный (тж. грам.); неясный 2) неограниченныйSyn: see vague … Англо-русский словарь Мюллера
Indefinite — The word indefinite has these meanings: *In mathematics: **When talking about positive or negative indefinite forms in multilinear algebra, see definite bilinear form. ** indefinite is sometimes used to describe the result of trying to divide 0… … Wikipedia
indefinite — adjective Etymology: Latin indefinitus, from in + definitus definite Date: 1530 not definite: as a. typically designating an unidentified, generic, or unfamiliar person or thing < the indefinite articles a and an > < indefinite pronouns > b. not… … New Collegiate Dictionary
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 — 1) неопределенный 2) бессрочный 3) индефинитный 4) неограниченный 5) бесконечный 6) бесконечен – indefinite discontinuity – indefinite integral indefinite time lag… … Англо-русский технический словарь
indefinite — indēfīnītē, Adv. (indefinitus), unbestimmt, Gell. 2, 24, 7: Ggstz. particulariter u. universaliter, Mart. Cap. 4. § 396 … Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch
indefinite — См. indefinito … Пятиязычный словарь лингвистических терминов
indefinite — adjective a) Without limit; forever, or until further notice; not definite. b) Vague or unclear. See Also: indeterminate … Wiktionary
Indefinite leave to remain — (ILR) is an immigration status granted to a person who does not hold right of abode in the United Kingdom, but who has been admitted to the UK without any time limit on his or her stay and who is free to take up employment or study, without… … Wikipedia