v.
Pronunciation: di- ' s ī d, d ē -
Function: verb
Inflected Form: de · cid · ed ; de · cid · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin decidere, literally, to cut off, from de- + caedere to cut
Date: 14th century
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- ˌ s ī -d ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– de · cid · able \ di- ' s ī -d ə -b ə 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>.