definite

Definite is an adjective that denotes something clearly defined, specific, or certain, and it often implies boundaries or limits. The word comes from the Latin definitus, meaning “set boundaries” or “determined.”

In grammar, definiteness is a category that marks whether a noun phrase refers to a specific known entity. A definite noun phrase points to a particular item, contrast with indefinite phrases that refer to non-specific items. The definite article in English is the word the, which signals definiteness. Other languages express definiteness through articles, demonstratives, or inflection, and some languages lack articles entirely, relying on context to indicate specificity. The concept of definiteness is central to discussions of definite descriptions, a topic in philosophy and linguistics.

In philosophy and logic, definite descriptions are phrases that purport to refer to a unique object, such as “the author of Waverley.” Theories of description, notably those proposed by Bertrand Russell, analyze how such phrases can be meaningful even when no object fitting the description exists.

In mathematics and related sciences, definite has several technical uses. A definite integral indicates a bounded area or accumulated quantity between specified limits, yielding a numerical value. A matrix or quadratic form may be positive definite or negative definite, meaning it satisfies particular positivity or negativity conditions for all nonzero vectors. The term also appears in phrases like definite article, definite description, and definite symmetry, depending on the context.

Overall, definite conveys clarity, specificity, and boundary, across linguistics, philosophy, and mathematics.