definere

Definere is a Latin verb meaning to set boundaries, determine, or define. In most texts, the standard infinitive is definire, though some medieval and scholarly spellings render it as definere. The verb comes from de- “from, away” plus finire “to end, bound,” itself related to finis “end, boundary.” The sense encompasses both defining a term or concept and delimiting a physical or juridical boundary. Definere appears across classical and late Latin, and it is the etymological ancestor of many modern Romance verbs.

Grammatical notes: Definire is treated as a fourth-conjugation verb in Latin grammar. The infinitive is definire; present, imperfect, and other tenses follow the standard fourth-conjugation patterns. In the present indicative, examples would include forms such as definis and definit (with varying persons), and the first singular is typically definō. The verb is commonly used in philosophical, legal, and scholastic contexts to discuss the act of delimiting terms, meanings, or domains. Typical constructions include definire terminum (to define a term) or definire limites (to define boundaries).

Cognates and influence: The Latin root of definire yields a broad family of words in Romance languages, such as Italian definire, Spanish definir, French définir, Portuguese definir, and Romanian defini. English define derives from the same Latin source via Old French. In scholarly and linguistic usage, definire/definire serves as a historical anchor for discussions of definition, precision, and terminological boundaries across languages.