Word Meanings - INDEFINITE - Book Publishers vocabulary database

Too numerous or variable to make a particular enumeration important; -- said of the parts of a flower, and the like. Also, indeterminate. Indefinite article , the word a or an, used with nouns to denote any one of a common or general class. --

Additional info about word: INDEFINITE

Too numerous or variable to make a particular enumeration important; -- said of the parts of a flower, and the like. Also, indeterminate. Indefinite article , the word a or an, used with nouns to denote any one of a common or general class. -- Indefinite inflorescence. See Indeterminate inflorescence, under Indeterminate. -- Indefinite proposition , a statement whose subject is a common term, with nothing to indicate distribution or nondistribution; as, Man is mortal. -- Indefinite term , a negative term; as, the not-good. Syn. -- Inexplicit; vague; uncertain; unsettled; indeterminate; loose; equivocal; inexact; approximate. (more info) 1. Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an indefinite time, plan, etc. It were to be wished that . . . men would leave off that indefinite way of vouching, "the chymists say this," or "the chymists affirm that." Boyle. The time of this last is left indefinite. Dryden. 2. Having no determined or certain limits; large and unmeasured, though not infinite; unlimited; as indefinite space; the indefinite extension of a straight line. Though it is not infinite, it may be indefinite; though it is not boundless in itself, it may be so to human comprehension. Spectator. 3. Boundless; infinite. Indefinite and omnipresent God, Inhabiting eternity. W. Thompson

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of INDEFINITE)

• Vague
• General
• lax
• indefinite
• undetermined
• popular
• intangible
• equivocal
• unsettled
• uncertain
• ill-defined
• pointless

Related words: (words related to INDEFINITE)

• POPULARIZATION
  The act of making popular, or of introducing among the people.
• GENERALIZED
  Comprising structural characters which are separated in more specialized forms; synthetic; as, a generalized type.
• GENERALIZABLE
  Capable of being generalized, or reduced to a general form of statement, or brought under a general rule. Extreme cases are . . . not generalizable. Coleridge
• POINTLESSLY
  Without point.
• GENERALTY
  Generality. Sir M. Hale.
• UNDETERMINABLE
  Not determinable; indeterminable. Locke.
• UNCERTAINTY
  1. The quality or state of being uncertain. 2. That which is uncertain; something unknown. Our shepherd's case is every man's case that quits a moral certainty for an uncertainty. L'Estrange.
• VAGUELY
  In a vague manner. What he vaguely hinted at, but dared not speak. Hawthorne.
• INTANGIBLE
  Not tangible; incapable of being touched; not perceptible to the touch; impalpable; imperceptible. Bp. Wilkins. A corporation is an artificial, invisible, intangible being. Marshall. -- In*tan"gi*ble*ness, n. -- In*tan"gi*bly, adv.
• UNCERTAINLY
  In an uncertain manner.
• POPULAR
  1. Of or pertaining to the common people, or to the whole body of the people, as distinguished from a select portion; as, the popular voice; popular elections. "Popular states." Bacon. "So the popular vote inclines." Milton. The commonly held in
• POINTLESS
  Having no point; blunt; wanting keenness; obtuse; as, a pointless sword; a pointless remark. Syn. -- Blunt; obtuse, dull; stupid.
• UNDETERMINATION
  Indetermination. Sir M. Hale.
• GENERALITY
  1. The state of being general; the quality of including species or particulars. Hooker. 2. That which is general; that which lacks specificalness, practicalness, or application; a general or vague statement or phrase. Let us descend from
• GENERALISSIMO
  The chief commander of an army; especially, the commander in chief of an army consisting of two or more grand divisions under separate commanders; -- a title used in most foreign countries.
• EQUIVOCALLY
  In an equivocal manner.
• GENERALLY
  1. In general; commonly; extensively, though not universally; most frequently. 2. In a general way, or in general relation; in the main; upon the whole; comprehensively. Generally speaking, they live very quietly. Addison. 3. Collectively; as a
• INDEFINITE
  Too numerous or variable to make a particular enumeration important; -- said of the parts of a flower, and the like. Also, indeterminate. Indefinite article , the word a or an, used with nouns to denote any one of a common or general class. --
• GENERALIZE
  1. To bring under a genus or under genera; to view in relation to a genus or to genera. Copernicus generalized the celestial motions by merely referring them to the moon's motion. Newton generalized them still more by referring this last to the
• GENERALIZATION
  1. The act or process of generalizing; the act of bringing individuals or particulars under a genus or class; deduction of a general principle from particulars. Generalization is only the apprehension of the one in the many. Sir W. Hamilton. 2.
• MAJOR GENERAL
  . An officer of the army holding a rank next above that of brigadier general and next below that of lieutenant general, and who usually commands a division or a corps.
• UNEQUIVOCAL
  Not equivocal; not doubtful; not ambiguous; evident; sincere; plain; as, unequivocal evidence; unequivocal words. -- Un`e*quiv"o*cal*ly, adv. -- Un`e*quiv"o*cal*ness, n.
• POSTMASTER-GENERAL
  The chief officer of the post-office department of a government. In the United States the postmaster-general is a member of the cabinet.
• BRIGADIER GENERAL
  An officer in rank next above a colonel, and below a major general. He commands a brigade, and is sometimes called, by a shortening of his title, simple a brigadier.