Meanings
plural definientia
- human sciencesThe word or phrase that defines the definiendum in a definition.
Yet such predicates will not in general even be interpreted over the domain of objects over which the definientia range.
1977, Nelson Goodman, The Structure of Appearance, 3rd edition, D. Reidel, →ISBN, page XLIV1 more example
In these definitions, then, there is only one part of the definiens, the form (e.g. being a human soul), which is prior to the kind and its matter.
2011, Michail Peramatzis, Priority in Aristotle's Metaphysics, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 196
Origin
From Latin, substantive use of dēfīniēns (“[a] defining”), present active participle of dēfīniō.
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
definiens. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/definiens
“definiens.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/definiens. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “definiens,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/definiens.
Source: definiens on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.