define Copy link Outline I. To mark out, fix by limits1. termĭno, 12. circumscrībo, psi, ptum, 3 (to enclose by precise boundaries)3. dēfīnio, 4II. To give a definition of1. dēfīnio, 42. fīnio, 43. circumscrībo, 3 • define: I. To mark out, fix by limits: 1. termĭno, 1: to d. the public from the private land, agrum publicum a privato t.: Cic.: v. to bound. 2. circumscrībo, psi, ptum, 3 (to enclose by precise boundaries): to d. any one's place of residence, locum habitandi alicui c., Cic. 3. dēfīnio, 4: every one had had his proper place d.d, suus cuique locus definitus erat, Caes. II. To give a definition of: 1. dēfīnio, 4: to d. an orator comprehensively, oratoris vim universam et propriam def. complectique, Cic.: fortitude is rightly d.d by the Stoics to be virtue defending justice, probe definitur a Stoicis fortitudo, quum eam virtutem esse dicunt propugnantem pro aequitate, Cic. Join: illustrare aliquid, et definire verbis, Cic. 2. fīnio, 4: as if you should d. a horse, ut si finias equum, Quint. 3. circumscrībo, 3: to d. a man, [dicere et] c. verbis quid sit homo, Gell.: to d. briefly, brevi c. et definire, Cic.
DEFINE Copy link • DEFINETo give a logical definition of, definire (to fix the limits, so that the thing may be accurately distinguished from other things): circumscribere (to limit the meaning, so that too much may not be comprehended under it, etc.). (The words are found in this connection and order.) circumscribere et definire: dicere et quasi circumscribere verbis: definitione declarare: constituere, qui sint in aliqua re fines (to limit a moral problem, etc., Cic.): to define the notion of duty, definire, quid sit officium; the general notion of anything, universam et propriam alicujus (rei) vim definire complectique; propriam alicujus rei vim definitione declarare: to define in a few words, brevi circumscribere et definire; definire rem verbis et breviter describere: to define the term man, dicere et quasi circumscribere verbis, quid homo sit (Cic.): it is of great importance how you define the office of a tribune, plurimum interest, quid esse tribunatum putes. Fortitude is correctly defined by the Stoics to be, etc., probe definitur a Stoicis fortitudo, cum eam - esse dicunt, etc. (Cic.): which they define to be, etc., quod sic definiunt, ut (id) velint esse, etc.: the former term is usually defined thus, illud superius sic fere definiri solet: to define the proper limits of friendship, constituere, qui sint in amicitia fines et quasi termini diligendi (Cic.). To determine the extent of anything with precision, definire: circumscribere: terminare (e.g. fines imperii; regiones, etc.): limitare (very rare; quaestionem, Varr.). Vid: To LIMIT.