determinar

Determinar is a Spanish verb of the -ar conjugation. Its etymology goes back to Latin determinare, formed from de- and terminare, with terminus meaning end or limit. The sense of fixing boundaries or deciding underlies the modern uses of the word in many Romance languages.

In Spanish, determinar means to determine or decide something based on evidence, reasoning, or calculation. It can also mean to establish, fix, or set a limit, date, or condition. Common applications include determining the date of an event, identifying the cause or responsibility in a situation, or determining a result or course of action. The verb can express ascertainment achieved through examination, analysis, or deliberation, as well as the act of deciding a plan or policy.

Determinar is a regular -ar verb. In the present indicative it forms as: determino, determinas, determina, determinamos, determináis, determinan. Other key tenses include the preterite: determiné, determinaste, determinó, determinamos, determinasteis, determinaron; imperfect: determinaba, determinabas, determinaba, determinábamos, determinabais, determinaban. The present subjunctive is determine, determines, determine, determinemos, determinéis, determinen. There are also common compound forms with haber, such as he determinado, has determinado, ha determinado. Existence of two imperfect subjunctive forms is noted: determinara (or determinase), determinara, determinásemos, etc.

Derivatives and related terms include determinación (determination), determinante (determinant or decisive factor), and determinista (determinist). The term is widely used in education, science, law, and everyday language to indicate the act of fixing a conclusion, setting a parameter, or selecting a course of action based on evidence or reasoning.