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单词 definitive
释义 definitive, a. and n.|dɪˈfɪnɪtɪv|
Forms: 4–6 diffinityf, -inytif, -ynytif(e, 5 defynytyfe, defenytyffe, 6 dyffinatyue, definytiue, 6–7 diffinitive, 7 definative, 6– definitive.
[a. OF. definitif, diffinitif, -ive (12th c.), ad. L. dē-, diffīnītīv-us, f. ppl. stem of dēfīnīre: see definite.]
A. adj. Having the function of defining, or of being definite.
1. a. Having the function of finally deciding or settling; decisive, determinative, conclusive, final: esp. in definitive sentence, and the like.
c1386Chaucer Doctor's T. 172 The Iuge answerd of þis in his absence I may not ȝiue diffinityf sentence.1474Caxton Chesse iii. vi. H v b, The theef was..taken..and by sentence diffynytif was hanged.1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xxiv. 35 It was the moneth of May folowyng, or [= ere] they had aunswere dyffinatyue.1583Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 106 Maye they as Capytall Iudges, geue definytiue sentence of lyfe and death vpon malefactors.1601R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 57 Upon hearing of both parties, judgment definative is given, and may not be repealed.1688Answ. Talon's Plea 3 Barely to say with a definitive Gravity, Here's a great abuse.1748Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. 11 Expecting a definitive answer.1763Wilkes Corr. (1805) I. 84 The definitive treaty is now signed.1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 527 A jury had pronounced: the verdict was definitive.
b. transf. of persons. Obs.
1603Shakes. Meas. for M. v. i. 432 Neuer craue him, we are definitiue..Away with him to death.1639Fuller Holy War iv. v. (1647) 176 Desiring rather to be scepticall then definitive in the causes of Gods judgements.1741Richardson Pamela (1824) I. 104, I will make you..my adviser in this matter, though not, perhaps, my definitive judge.
c. That settles or determines bounds or limits.
1860J. P. Kennedy W. Wirt I. xiii. 164 [This] point of view should lead to a just and definitive limitation of the boundaries.
2. Having the character of finality as a product; determinate, definite, fixed and final. Of an edition of a literary work, a textbook, etc.: authoritative; the most complete and authoritative to date. In Biol. opposed to formative or primitive, as definitive organs, definitive aorta.
a1639Wotton (J.), [It] being the very definitive sum of this art, to distribute usefully and gracefully a well chosen plot.1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. vi, Other Authors write often dubiously, even in matters wherein is expected a strict and definitive truth.1821J. Q. Adams in C. Davies Metr. Syst. iii. (1871) 174 The temporary system established by the law of 1st August, 1793. The definitive system established by the law of 10th December, 1799.1865Daily Tel. 30 Oct. 4/4 Some days will probably elapse before we shall be able to announce a definitive result.1878Newcomb Pop. Astron. iii. v. 399 A definitive orbit of the comet.1882Swinburne Let. 27 Sept. in N. & Q. (1965) CCX. 304/2 Dr. Grosart..is about to publish what the French would call a ‘definitive edition’ of Daniel.1887Amer. Jrnl. Philol. VIII. 484 With the four volumes first mentioned the Goethe Society in Weimar begins the publication of the definitive edition of Goethe's works.1888Rolleston & Jackson Forms of Animal Life 803 The primitive ovum divides; one of the cells thus produced grows into the definitive ovum.1928T. S. Eliot in E. Pound Sel. Poems p. vii, This book is, in my eyes, rather a convenient Introduction to Pound's work than a definitive edition.1949‘G. Orwell’ Nineteen Eighty-Four i. iv. 44 Ampleforth..was engaged in producing garbled versions—definitive texts, they were called—of poems which had become ideologically offensive.1959Spectator 21 Aug. 235/1 That vague uneasiness one has come to feel in the presence of American ‘definitive’ biographies.
3. Metaph. Having a definite position, but not occupying space: opposed to circumscriptive. Obs.
[1529,1624see definitively 2.]1657Hobbes Absurd Geom. Wks. VII. 385 Definitive or circumscriptive, and some other of your distinctions..are but snares.1665Glanvill Sceps. Sci. xiii. 73 Who is it that retains not a great part of the imposture, by allowing them a definitive Ubi, which is still but Imagination?
4. That makes or deals with definite statements.
a1619M. Fotherby Atheom. ii. ix. §2 (1622) 296 Plutarch is more definitiue, and punctuall, in this point.1862Lit. Churchman VIII. 6/1 We should be glad to see more definitive teaching on the nature of Church Communion.
5. That serves to define or state exactly what a thing is; that specifies the individual referred to; esp. in Gram. (Formerly used of the definite article, and of the finite verb.)
1731Bailey vol. II, s.v. Article, Definitive Article, the article (the) so called, as fixing the sense of the word it is put before to one individual thing.1765W. Ward Gram. iv. iv. 164 Of the verb definitive.1800W. Taylor in Monthly Mag. VIII. 797 To preserve a name of sect, which ought to be simply definitive, from sliding into a term of reproach.1824L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 231 When a noun of multitude is preceded by a definitive word, which clearly limits the sense to an aggregate with an idea of unity, it requires a verb..in the singular number: as, ‘A company of troops was detached’.1854Ellicott Galat. 87 The..definitive force of the article.
6. Concerned with the definition of form or outline. rare.
1815W. Taylor in Monthly Rev. LXXVI. 115 The lineless delicate contours of youth and bloom embarrass the definitive skill even of a Correggio.
B. n. (the adj. used ellipt.)
1. A definitive sentence, judgement, or pronouncement. Obs.
1595W. Hubbocke Apol. Infants Unbapt. 11 Is there no pardon from this general damnatorie sentence and cruell definitiue?1660R. Coke Power & Subj. 134 Judgment is the definitive of him who by right commands, permits, or forbids a thing.1804Europ. Mag. in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1805) VIII. 135 In spite of the Definitive, we shall have another battle of the books.
2. Gram. A definitive word.
1751Harris Hermes (1841) 179 Definitives..are commonly called by grammarians, ‘articles,’ articuli, ἄρθρα. They are of two kinds, either those properly..so called, or else the pronominal articles, such as this, that, any, &c.1786–98H. Tooke Purley I. 20 About the time of Aristotle, when a fourth part of the speech was added,—the definitive, or article.1824L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 71 As articles are by their nature definitives..they cannot be united with such words as are..as definite as they may be; (the personal pronouns for instance).




Add:[A.] [2.] b. Philately. Of a postage stamp: belonging to or forming part of the standard issue of a country. Cf. *provisional a. 1 c.
1929K. B. Stiles Stamps i. 8 Once more, provisionals appeared. These in turn were replaced by definitive stamps inscribed with the newly required values.1961K. F. Chapman Commonwealth Stamp Collecting ii. 34 Both territories..have issued definitive stamps recognized by the Universal Postal Union for international use.1977Globe & Mail (Toronto) 23 Apr. 1/4 It is the first time the queen has not been on the definitive stamp.1986Sunday Express 21 Dec. 6/8 While 12p Christmas stamps were OK, 12p definitive stamps were not.
[B.] 3. Philately. A definitive postage stamp.
1929K. B. Stiles Stamps i. 7 Stamps which are called definitives..are of permanent character—for use regularly until such time as the government issuing them shall decide to replace them with stamps of another design.1961K. F. Chapman Commonwealth Stamp Collecting ii. 34 The low value definitives with naye paise surcharges began to appear in 1960.1986Stamp Mag. Feb. 70/4 The initial issue will be of definitives (5, 30, 60 and 150 cents) and ‘independence’ commemoratives.
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