determinate

1. not comparableDistinct, clearly defined.First known use 14th c.

   Quantity of words and a determinate number of feet.

   1668, John Dryden, Essay of Dramatick Poesie

   1 more example

   […] 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. not comparableFixed, determined, set, unvarying.First known use 16th c.

   [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

   1 more example

   […] 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

3. not comparablebiologyOf growth: ending once a genetically predetermined structure has formed.
4. not comparableConclusive; decisive; positive.
5. not comparableobsoleteDetermined or resolved upon.

   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]

   1 more example

   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. not comparableOf determined purpose; resolute.

   More determinate to do than skilfull how to do.

   The New Arcadia

   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

plural determinates

1. human sciencesA 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

present singular third person determinates · participle present determinating · participle past determinated · past determinated

1. obsoleteTo bring to an end; to determine.

   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]