Definí

Definí is the first-person singular simple past (preterite) form of the Spanish verb definir, meaning “I defined.” It is used to describe a completed action of defining something in the past and typically appears with a direct object, such as a term, a concept, or the scope of a project. As a transitive verb, definir often conveys the act of fixing the meaning, boundaries, or characteristics of something.

Etymology and forms: Definir originates from Latin definire, formed by de- (“to bound”) and finire (“to end, to limit”). In addition to definí, the preterite forms are definiste, definió, definimos, definisteis, and definieron. The accent on the í in definí marks the stress on the last syllable, helping distinguish this form from other conjugations in continuous or surrounding text. Other tenses use the same root with different accents where needed (for example, definió in the third-person singular preterite).

Usage: Definí appears in narratives and explanations when the speaker refers to something they established or clarified in the past. It often accompanies phrases like definí un término, definí las reglas, definí el alcance, or definí mis metas. Examples: “Ayer definí las metas para este año.” “Definí los términos del contrato.”

Cross-language note: In Portuguese, the corresponding first-person preterite is definí without an accent in most dialects (defini). The Spanish form definí uses acute accent to indicate stress placement, an orthographic feature of Spanish verb conjugation.