I. To bound, to set bounds to; to limit, terminate, define (for syn. v. decerno—freq. in Cic.).
A. Lit.: “ejus fundi extremam partem oleae directo ordine definiunt,” Cic. Caecin. 8, 22; cf. id. Rep. 2, 6: “orbes caeli aspectum nostrum definiunt,” id. Div. 2, 44; cf. id. N. D. 2, 40: “orbem terrarum (loca),” id. Balb. 28, 64; “imperium populi R.,” id. Sest. 31, 67 al. —
B. Trop.
1. To designate by limiting; to limit, define, determine; to explain (cf. circumscribo, no. II. A.): “genus universum brevi circumscribi et definiri potest,” Cic. Sest. 45, 97; cf. id. de Or. 1, 16, 70: “universam et propriam oratoris vim,” id. ib. 1, 15: “definienda res erit verbis et breviter describenda,” id. Inv. 1, 8 fin.; cf. Cic. Rep. 1, 24; 2, 31 fin.: omitto innumerabiles viros, etc.... unum hoc definio, tantam esse necessitatem virtutis, etc., this only I declare, etc., id. ib. 1, 1 fin.: probe definitur a Stoicis fortitudo, cum eam virtutem esse dicunt propugnantem pro aequitate, id. Off. 1, 19; 1, 27, 96; id. Fin. 2, 2 et saep.: “nec uno modo definitur res eadem,” Quint. 7, 3, 16; Tac. A. 6, 28 et saep.: “aedes sibi optimas, hortos, etc.,” Cic. Phil. 8, 3, 9; cf.: “ut suus cuique locus erat definitus,” Caes. B. G. 7, 81, 4: “tempus adeundi,” id. ib. 7, 83, 5: cf.: “ante quem diem iturus sit,” id. B. C. 1, 11, 2: “annos,” Quint. 12, 6, 1: “consulatum in annos,” Caes. B. C. 3, 82, 4; cf.: “potestatem in quinquennium,” Cic. Agr. 2, 13: “ut quam vitam ingrediar, definias,” id. Ac. 2, 36; cf. id. Quint. 27: “non remittam: definitum est,” it is determined, decided, Plaut. Cist. 2, 1, 43; Cic. Fat. 5, 9; Vulg. 1 Reg. 20, 33.—
2. In opposition to breadth or laxity (cf. circumscribo, no. II. 2), to limit within certain bounds, to restrict, confine: “non vagabitur oratio mea longius atque eis fere ipsis definietur viris, qui, etc.,” Cic. de Or. 3, 3: “quae sententia definit amicitiam paribus officiis ac voluntatibus,” Cic. Lael. 16, 58; cf. id. de Or. 3, 28, 109: ex perduellium numero definitus, included in the definition of, Off. 3, 29, 107 (dub.). —
II. To terminate, finish (very rare; “perh. only in the foll. places): ut totam hujus generis orationem concludam atque definiam,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 52 Zumpt; id. Or. 19 fin.: definito juvene, ended, i. e. slain, Apul. M. 8, p. 203, 20.—Hence, dēfīnītus , a, um, P. a. (according to no. I. B. 1), definite, limited, distinct, precise; plain, perspicuous (rare, but good prose): quaestionum duo sunt genera: alterum infinitum, alterum definitum. Definitum est, quod ὑπόθεσιν Graeci, nos causam, etc., Cic. Top. 21; “so opp. generales,” Quint. 7, 2, 1: “certum esse in caelo ac definitum locum, ubi, etc.,” Cic. Rep. 6, 13; “so with certus,” id. Fam. 3, 8; Quint. 7, 10, 7: “quaestiones,” Cic. Top. 24 fin.—Adv.: dē-fīnītē , definitely, precisely, distinctly, etc., Cic. Balb. 14; de Or. 2, 27, 118; Plin. Pan. 88, 6; Gell. 1, 257 al.—Comp. and sup. do not occur.
