Definira

Definira is a verb form derived from the Portuguese verb definir, meaning to define. It is encountered primarily in literary or formal Portuguese and represents a specific inflected form used with the subject he/she/it. In contemporary everyday speech, this particular form is uncommon to rare, with speakers more frequently using other past tenses such as the simple past or compound past.

In terms of tense and mood, definira is associated with the pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples (a literary past perfect form). This tense conveys an action that was completed prior to another past action, a use that is typical of classic prose and some regional varieties. Because of its stylistic character, definira appears most often in written texts rather than in casual conversation. When conveyed in modern speech, its meaning is effectively expressed with combinations such as has/havia definido or times with the simple past, depending on the context.

Usage notes: definira should be understood as a past-tense conjugation of definir, not as a separate lexical item. It does not denote a new or independent concept; rather, it marks tense and aspect. Non-Portuguese readers encountering definira are likely to be reading older literature or studying historical language forms, where the tense system preserves forms that are less common in everyday modern Portuguese.

See also: definir; pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples; Portuguese verb conjugation; literary tenses.