eindige

Eindige is a Dutch adjective meaning finite or limited in extent or duration. It describes something that has a definite end or a bounded quantity, as opposed to something infinite (oneindig) or unlimited. In everyday use, eindige can refer to time, space, resources, or processes: for example, a finite duration (een eindige duur) or a limited stock (een eindige voorraad). In mathematics and computer science the term is common: a eindige verzameling has a finite number of elements; a eindige reeks consists of finitely many terms; a eindige automaat (finite automaton) recognizes regular languages.

Etymology: the word is formed from eind, meaning end, plus the suffix -ig, yielding a sense of ending or boundedness. The noun eindigheid denotes finiteness, and the opposite concepts are oneindig or onbeperkt, meaning infinite or unlimited, and eindeloos, meaning endless.

Related terms and concepts commonly encountered with eindige include eindige toestanden or eindige staat (finite states), eindige grenzen (finite limits), and the broader notion of finitude in mathematics and philosophy. In contrast, infinite or unbounded cases are described with oneindig or onbeperkt, and enduring or endless contexts are often labeled eindeloos.

In sum, eindige functions as a precise descriptor of boundedness or termination, used across everyday Dutch language and technical disciplines to distinguish finite cases from infinite ones.