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F4I1N1I1T1E1

finite

fi·nite

UK/ˈfaɪ.naɪt/[ˈfaɪ.nʌɪt]Australia/ˈfɑe.nɑet/New Zealand[ˈfɑe̯.nɑe̯t]

adjective

What it means

  1. Having an end or limit; (of a quantity) constrained by bounds; (of a set) whose number of elements is a natural number.

    Synonyms: limited

  2. grammarLimited by (i.e. inflected for) person or number.First known use 19th c.
  3. ring theoryfinitely generated (as a module).

In a sentence

Diſagreement in Subſtance or Eſſence […] may be called Diſproportion, as, there is a Diſproportion betvveen Finites and Infinites, i.e. there is no Proportion betvveen them.

1733, I[saac] W[atts], “A Brief Scheme of Ontology: Or The Science of Being in General; […]. Chap[ter] XIII. Of Agreement and Difference, of Sameness, and the Doctrine of Opposites.”, in Philosophical Essays on Various Subjects, […], London: […] Richard Ford […], and Richard Hett […], →OCLC, pages 384–385

Where it comes from

  1. Latinfīnītus
  2. Middle Englishfynyte
  3. Englishfinite

The adjective is derived from Middle English fynyte, finit, from Latin fīnītus, perfect passive participle of fīniō (“to finish; to terminate”), from fīnis (“boundary”). The word displaced Old English ġeendodlīċ. The noun is derived from the adjective.

First known use: 19th c.

Full entry for finite →

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