decide

One entry found for decide.

Main Entry: de·cide
Pronunciation: di-'sId, dE-
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): de·cid·ed; de·cid·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin decidere, literally, to cut off, from de- + caedere to cut
transitive verb
1 a : to make a final choice or judgment about <decide what to do> b : to select as a course of action -- used with an infinitive <decided to go> c : to infer on the basis of evidence : CONCLUDE <they decided that he was right>
2 : to bring to a definitive end <one blow decided the fight>
3 : to induce to come to a choice <her pleas decided him to help>
intransitive verb : to make a choice or judgment <decide on where to go>
- de·cid·abil·i·ty /di-"sI-d&-'bi-l&-tE/ noun
- de·cid·able /di-'sI-d&-b&l/ adjective
- de·cid·er noun
synonyms DECIDE, DETERMINE, SETTLE, RULE, RESOLVE mean to come or cause to come to a conclusion. DECIDE implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy <she decided to sell her house>. DETERMINE implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something <determined the cause of the problem>. SETTLE implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty <the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy>. RULE implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority <the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible>. RESOLVE implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something <he resolved to quit smoking>.