From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Determinant \De*ter"mi*nant\, a. [L. determinans, p. pr. of
determinare: cf. F. d['e]terminant.]
Serving to determine or limit; determinative.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Determinant \De*ter"mi*nant\, n.
1. That which serves to determine; that which causes
determination.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Math.) The sum of a series of products of several
numbers, these products being formed according to certain
specified laws;
Note: thus, the determinant of the nine numbers
a, b, c,a', b', c',a'', b'', c'',
is a b' c'' - a b'' c' + a' b'' c] - a' b c'' + a'' b'
c. The determinant is written by placing the numbers
from which it is formed in a square between two
vertical lines. The theory of determinants forms a very
important branch of modern mathematics.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Logic) A mark or attribute, attached to the subject or
predicate, narrowing the extent of both, but rendering
them more definite and precise. --Abp. Thomson.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
determinant
adj 1: having the power or quality of deciding; "the crucial
experiment"; "cast the deciding vote"; "the determinative
(or determinant) battle" [syn: {deciding(a)},
{determinant}, {determinative}, {determining(a)}]
n 1: a determining or causal element or factor; "education is an
important determinant of one's outlook on life" [syn:
{determinant}, {determiner}, {determinative}, {determining
factor}, {causal factor}]
2: the site on the surface of an antigen molecule to which an
antibody attaches itself [syn: {antigenic determinant},
{determinant}, {epitope}]
3: a square matrix used to solve simultaneous equations
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