Etymology From Middle English determinate, determynat, determinat, from Latin dēterminātus, perfect passive participle of dēterminō (“to limit, set bounds”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more.
1
Distinct, clearly defined.
Quantity of words and a determinate number of feet.1668, John Dryden, Essay of Dramatick Poesie:
[…] on account of his responsibility to Norman and Marigold, and on account of his now determinate age, he considered himself ineligible for more dangerous service.1938, Xavier Herbert, chapter VIII, in Capricornia, page 122:
2
Fixed, determined, set, unvarying.
[…] hym have ye taken by the hondes of vnrightewes perſones / after he was delivered by the determinat counſell and fore knoweledge of God / and have crucified and ſlayne hym / […]1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts :[23], folio clv, verso:
[S]he watched impatiently for the dawn of day, with that determinate purpoſe which generally inſures ſucceſs.1798, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, “[Maria: or, The] Wrongs of Woman”, in W[illiam] Godwin, editor, Posthumous Works of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. […], volume I, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […]; and G[eorge,] G[eorge] and J[ohn] Robinson, […], →OCLC, chapter VI, page 129:
3
Biology, Natural sciences Of growth: ending once a genetically predetermined structure has formed.
My determinate voyage.c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
Francesca saw the danger of allowing this apathy to increase, and would fain have laid down some determinate scheme, and sought some fixed home and employment, which must have brought its occupations, its habits, and, finally, its interests.1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XI, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 114:
6
Of determined purpose; resolute.
More determinate to do than skilfull how to do.a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
Etymology From a substantivation of the above adjective. See -ate (noun-forming suffix) for more.
1
Human sciences, Philosophy, Sciences A single state of a particular determinable attribute.
And since being negatively-charged and being positively-charged are determinates of the same determinable, [D5] will not permit us to infer worlds where anything negatively-charged is also positively-charged.2007 September 5, David Denby, “Generating possibilities”, in Philosophical Studies, volume 141, number 2, →DOI:
determinate
verb
Etymology From Middle English determinaten, from determinat + -en, see Etymology 1 and -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more. Compare French déterminer.
The sly, slow hours shall not determinate / The dateless limit of thy dear exile.1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]: