determination

From Middle English determinacion, determynacioun, from Old French determinacion, from Latin dēterminātiō. Morphologically determine +‎ -ation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃən/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

determination (countable and uncountable, plural determinations)

1. The act of determining, or the state of being determined.
   1. (countable) The act, process, or result of any accurate measurement, as of length, volume, weight, intensity, etc.

      the determination of the wavelength of light

      the determination of the level of salt in sea water

      the determination of the oxygen in the air

      • 1951 March, J. H. Lehmann, A. D. Johnson, W. C. Bridges, J. Michel, D. M. Green, “Cardiac Catheterization—A Diagnostic Aid in Congenital Heart Disease”, in Northwest Medicine, volume 50, number 3, Portland, Ore.: Northwest Medical Publishing Association, page 170:

        Intracardiac blood pressures can be recorded by a simple water manometer or by electronic devices. These determinations are of value in identifying the different cardiac cavities.

   2. The act of defining a concept or notion by giving its essential constituents.
   3. The addition of a distinguishing feature to a concept or notion, thus limiting its extent.

      Antonym: generalization

   4. The act of determining the relations of an object, such as genus and species; the referring of minerals, plants, or animals, to the species to which they belong; classification

      I am indebted to a friend for the determination of most of these shells.

2. Direction or tendency to a certain end; impulsion.
3. The quality of mind which reaches definite conclusions; decisive character; resoluteness.

   Through sheer determination, we managed to escape from the tornado.

4. (countable) The state of decision; a judicial decision, or ending of controversy.
5. (countable) That which is determined upon; result of deliberation; purpose; conclusion formed; fixed resolution.

   The tribunal has reached a determination in respect of this matter.

6. A flow, rush, or tendency to a particular part

   a determination of blood to the head

7. (law, otherwise obsolete) Bringing to an end; termination; limit.
   • 2021, HM Land Registry, Practice guide 26: leases – determination‎, archived from the original on 4 October 2021:

     If a lease is determined by notice, forfeiture or frustration, all incumbrances will normally end automatically with the determination of the lease and can therefore be ignored.

   • 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 13”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:

     So should that beauty which you hold in lease
     Find no determination: then you were
     Yourself again after yourself's decease […]

determination c (singular definite determinationen, plural indefinite determinationer)

1. determination

• “determination” in Den Danske Ordbog