finite

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word finite. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word finite, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say finite in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word finite you have here. The definition of the word finite will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition offinite, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

The adjective is derived from Middle English fynyte, finit, from Latin fīnītus, perfect passive participle of fīniō (I finish; I terminate), from fīnis (boundary). The word displaced Old English ġeendodlīċ.

The noun is derived from the adjective.

Pronunciation

Adjective

finite (comparative more finite, superlative most finite)

  1. Having an end or limit; (of a quantity) constrained by bounds; (of a set) whose number of elements is a natural number.
    Synonym: limited
  2. (grammar, as opposed to infinite or nonfinite) Limited by (i.e. inflected for) person or number.
    The "goes" in "he goes" is a finite form of a verb, the third-person singular.
  3. (ring theory, of a module (or algebra) over a ring) finitely generated (as a module).

Antonyms

Derived terms

terms derived from finite (adjective)

Translations

Noun

finite (plural finites)

  1. A thing which has an end or limit.
    • 1733, I W, “A Brief Scheme of Ontology: Or The Science of Being in General; . Chap XIII. Of Agreement and Difference, of Sameness, and the Doctrine of Opposites.”, in Philosophical Essays on Various Subjects, , London: Richard Ford , and Richard Hett , →OCLC, pages 384–385:
      Diſagreement in Subſtance or Eſſence [] may be called Diſproportion, as, there is a Diſproportion betvveen Finites and Infinites, i.e. there is no Proportion betvveen them.

Translations

Esperanto

Adverb

finite

  1. past adverbial passive participle of fini

German

Pronunciation

Adjective

finite

  1. inflection of finit:
    1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
    2. strong nominative/accusative plural
    3. weak nominative all-gender singular
    4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Ido

Pronunciation

Verb

finite

  1. adverbial past passive participle of finar

Interlingua

Participle

finite

  1. past participle of finir

Italian

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /fiˈni.te/
  • Rhymes: -ite
  • Hyphenation: fi‧nì‧te

Etymology 1

Adjective

finite

  1. feminine plural of finito

Participle

finite f pl

  1. feminine plural of finito

Etymology 2

Verb

finite

  1. inflection of finire:
    1. second-person plural present indicative
    2. second-person plural imperative

Latin

Pronunciation

Adverb

fīnītē (not comparable)

  1. To a certain extent, within limits; limited.
    Antonym: īnfīnītē
  2. Definitely, specifically.

References

  • finite”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers

Spanish

Verb

finite

  1. second-person singular voseo imperative of finir combined with te