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.

• (Received Pronunciation, New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈfaɪ.naɪt/
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈfaɪ.naɪt/

  • Audio (California):

    (file)

  • (Canadian raising) IPA^(key):
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈfɑɪ.nɑɪt/
• Rhymes: -aɪt
• Hyphenation: fi‧nite

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).

• infinite, nonfinite, infinitival
• unlimited
• endless
• eternal
• everlasting

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.

finite

1. past adverbial passive participle of fini

• Audio:

  (file)

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

• IPA^(key): /fiˈnite/

finite

1. adverbial past passive participle of finar

finite

1. past participle of finir

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

finite

1. feminine plural of finito

finite f pl

1. feminine plural of finito

finite

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

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key):
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key):

fīnītē (not comparable)

1. To a certain extent, within limits; limited.

   Antonym: īnfīnītē

2. Definitely, specifically.

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

finite

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