|in+ adjective
Etymology: Middle English indeterminat, from Late Latin indeterminatus, from Latin in- in- (I) + determinatus, past participle of determinare to limit, determine — more at determine
: not determinate : not definitely determined : not clearly established : not fixed : not settled : indefinite , uncertain , vague , indistinct : as
a.
(1) : not precisely fixed in extent or size or number or nature
a material used in an indeterminate number of varieties
a huge container of indeterminate volume
an insect of indeterminate sex
(2) : lacking precision of meaning : semantically vague or unfixed
an indeterminate and obscure phrase
b. : not fixed beforehand : not known in advance
their future remains indeterminate
when the rebellion will occur is indeterminate
c. : not leading to a definite end or result
an indeterminate debate
: remaining doubtful and unclear
an indeterminate point of law
d.
(1) : not limited as to the number of possible solutions
an indeterminate problem in mathematics
(2) of a number : not limited to one fixed value or to a series of fixed values — opposed to determinate
e. : not predetermined by some external force : not constrained : acting freely : spontaneous
maintaining that moral choice is indeterminate
f.
(1) : having a capacity for indefinite elongation : not exhibiting determinate growth
indeterminate plants
an indeterminate stem
especially : racemose
an indeterminate inflorescence
(2) : having no critical photoperiod
g. : phonetically neutral
an indeterminate vowel
• in·de·ter·mi·nate·ly adverb
• in·de·ter·mi·nate·ness noun