define

The story

1. Latin · derived fromdēfīniō“limit, settle, define”
2. Old French · derived fromdefiner
3. Middle English · inherited fromdefinen
4. English todaydefine

From Middle English definen, from Old French definer, variant of definir, from Latin dēfīniō (“limit, settle, define”), from dē + fīniō (“set a limit, bound, end”).

First known use, by meaning

• 16th–17th c. To settle, decide (an argument etc.).