| 释义 |
in·determinate
\|in+\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English indeterminat, from Late Latin indeterminatus, from Latin in- in- (I) + determinatus, past participle of determinare to limit, determine — more at determine
: not determinate : not definitely determined : not clearly established : not fixed : not settled : indefinite, uncertain, vague, indistinct: as
a.
(1) : not precisely fixed in extent or size or number or nature
< a material used in an indeterminate number of varieties >
< a huge container of indeterminate volume >
< an insect of indeterminate sex >
(2) : lacking precision of meaning : semantically vague or unfixed
< an indeterminate and obscure phrase >
b. : not fixed beforehand : not known in advance
< their future remains indeterminate >
< when the rebellion will occur is indeterminate >
c. : not leading to a definite end or result
< an indeterminate debate >
: remaining doubtful and unclear
< an indeterminate point of law >
d.
(1) : not limited as to the number of possible solutions
< an indeterminate problem in mathematics >
(2) of a number : not limited to one fixed value or to a series of fixed values — opposed to determinate
e. : not predetermined by some external force : not constrained : acting freely : spontaneous
< maintaining that moral choice is indeterminate >
f.
(1) : having a capacity for indefinite elongation : not exhibiting determinate growth
< indeterminate plants >
< an indeterminate stem >
especially : racemose
< an indeterminate inflorescence >
(2) : having no critical photoperiod
g. : phonetically neutral
< an indeterminate vowel >
• in·de·ter·mi·nate·ly adverb
• in·de·ter·mi·nate·ness noun |