‖ [ L., to infinity. ] Without limit; endlessly. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of the nature of affinity. -- Af*fin"i*ta*tive*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. Closely connected, as by affinity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Affinities [ OF. afinité, F. affinité, L. affinites, fr. affinis. See Affined. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Relationship by marriage (as between a husband and his wife's blood relations, or between a wife and her husband's blood relations); -- in contradistinction to consanguinity, or relationship by blood; -- followed by with, to, or between. [ 1913 Webster ]

Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh. 1 Kings iii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Kinship generally; close agreement; relation; conformity; resemblance; connection; as, the affinity of sounds, of colors, or of languages. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a close affinity between imposture and credulity. Sir G. C. Lewis. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Companionship; acquaintance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

About forty years past, I began a happy affinity with William Cranmer. Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Chem.) That attraction which takes place, at an insensible distance, between the heterogeneous particles of bodies, and unites them to form chemical compounds; chemism; chemical or elective affinity or attraction. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Nat. Hist.) A relation between species or higher groups dependent on resemblance in the whole plan of structure, and indicating community of origin. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Spiritualism) A superior spiritual relationship or attraction held to exist sometimes between persons, esp. persons of the opposite sex; also, the man or woman who exerts such psychical or spiritual attraction. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. confinité. ] Community of limits; contiguity. [ R. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. definitis, p. p. of definire: cf. F. défini. See Define. ] 1. Having certain or distinct; determinate in extent or greatness; limited; fixed; as, definite dimensions; a definite measure; a definite period or interval. [ 1913 Webster ]

Elements combine in definite proportions. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having certain limits in signification; determinate; certain; precise; fixed; exact; clear; as, a definite word, term, or expression. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Determined; resolved. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Serving to define or restrict; limiting; determining; as, the definite article. [ 1913 Webster ]

Definite article (Gram.), the article the, which is used to designate a particular person or thing, or a particular class of persons or things; -- also called a definitive. See Definitive, n. - -
Definite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Determinate inflorescence, under Determinate. --
Law of definite proportions (Chem.), the essential law of chemical combination that every definite compound always contains the same elements in the same proportions by weight; and, if two or more elements form more than one compound with each other, the relative proportions of each are fixed. Compare Law of multiple proportions, under Multiple. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A thing defined or determined. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a definite manner; with precision; precisely; determinately. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being definite; determinateness; precision; certainty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. definitio: cf. F. définition. ] 1. The act of defining; determination of the limits; as, a telescope accurate in definition. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Act of ascertaining and explaining the signification; a description of a thing by its properties; an explanation of the meaning of a word or term; as, the definition of “circle;” the definition of “wit;” an exact definition; a loose definition. [ 1913 Webster ]

Definition being nothing but making another understand by words what the term defined stands for. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Description; sort. [ R. ] “A new creature of another definition.” Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Logic) An exact enunciation of the constituents which make up the logical essence. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Opt.) Distinctness or clearness, as of an image formed by an optical instrument; precision in detail.

Syn. -- Definition, Explanation, Description. A definition is designed to settle a thing in its compass and extent; an explanation is intended to remove some obscurity or misunderstanding, and is therefore more extended and minute; a description enters into striking particulars with a view to interest or impress by graphic effect. It is not therefore true, though often said, that description is only an extended definition. “Logicians distinguish definitions into essential and accidental. An essential definition states what are regarded as the constituent parts of the essence of that which is to be defined; and an accidental definition lays down what are regarded as circumstances belonging to it, viz., properties or accidents, such as causes, effects, etc.” Whately. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to definition; of the nature of a definition; employed in defining. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. definitivus: cf. F. définitif. ] 1. Determinate; positive; final; conclusive; unconditional; express. [ 1913 Webster ]

A strict and definitive truth. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some definitive . . . scheme of reconciliation. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Limiting; determining; as, a definitive word. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Determined; resolved. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Gram.) A word used to define or limit the extent of the signification of a common noun, such as the definite article, and some pronouns. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Definitives . . . are commonly called by grammarians articles. . . . They are of two kinds, either those properly and strictly so called, or else pronominal articles, such as this, that, any, other, some, all, no, none, etc. Harris (Hermes). [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a definitive manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being definitive. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Definiteness. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Definitude . . . is a knowledge of minute differences. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ For definitive. ] Definitive; determinate; final. [ Obs. ] Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. finitus, p. p. of finire. See Finish, and cf. Fine, a. ] Having a limit; limited in quantity, degree, or capacity; bounded; -- opposed to infinite; as, finite number; finite existence; a finite being; a finite mind; finite duration. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Infinite. [ Obs. ] Sir T. browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a finite manner or degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being finite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. finire. See Finish. ] Limitation. Cheyne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. indefinitus. See In- not, and Definite. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an indefinite time, plan, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

It were to be wished that . . . men would leave off that indefinite way of vouching, “the chymists say this, ” or “the chymists affirm that.” Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

The time of this last is left indefinite. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having no determined or certain limits; large and unmeasured, though not infinite; unlimited; as, indefinite space; the indefinite extension of a straight line. [ 1913 Webster ]

Though it is not infinite, it may be indefinite; though it is not boundless in itself, it may be so to human comprehension. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Boundless; infinite. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Indefinite and omnipresent God,
Inhabiting eternity. W. Thompson (1745). [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) Too numerous or variable to make a particular enumeration important; -- said of the parts of a flower, and the like. Also, indeterminate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Indefinite article (Gram.), the word a or an, used with nouns to denote any one of a common or general class. --
Indefinite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Indeterminate inflorescence, under Indeterminate. --
Indefinite proposition (Logic), a statement whose subject is a common term, with nothing to indicate distribution or nondistribution; as, Man is mortal. --
Indefinite term (Logic), a negative term; as, the not-good.

Syn. -- Inexplicit; vague; uncertain; unsettled; indeterminate; loose; equivocal; inexact; approximate. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an indefinite manner or degree; without any settled limitation; vaguely; not with certainty or exactness; as, to use a word indefinitely. [ 1913 Webster ]

If the world be indefinitely extended, that is, so far as no human intellect can fancy any bound of it. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being indefinite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Indefiniteness; vagueness; also, number or quantity not limited by our understanding, though yet finite. [ Obs. ] Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. infinitus: cf. F. infini. See In- not, and Finite. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Unlimited or boundless, in time or space; as, infinite duration or distance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whatever is finite, as finite, will admit of no comparative relation with infinity; for whatever is less than infinite is still infinitely distant from infinity; and lower than infinite distance the lowest or least can not sink. H. Brooke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Without limit in power, capacity, knowledge, or excellence; boundless; immeasurably or inconceivably great; perfect; as, the infinite wisdom and goodness of God; -- opposed to finite. [ 1913 Webster ]

Great is our Lord, and of great power; his understanding is infinite. Ps. cxlvii. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

O God, how infinite thou art! I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Indefinitely large or extensive; great; vast; immense; gigantic; prodigious. [ 1913 Webster ]

Infinite riches in a little room. Marlowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Which infinite calamity shall cause
To human life. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Math.) Greater than any assignable quantity of the same kind; -- said of certain quantities. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mus.) Capable of endless repetition; -- said of certain forms of the canon, called also perpetual fugues, so constructed that their ends lead to their beginnings, and the performance may be incessantly repeated. Moore (Encyc. of Music).

Syn. -- Boundless; immeasurable; illimitable; interminable; limitless; unlimited; endless; eternal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which is infinite; boundless space or duration; infinity; boundlessness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not till the weight is heaved from off the air, and the thunders roll down the horizon, will the serene light of God flow upon us, and the blue infinite embrace us again. J. Martineau. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) An infinite quantity or magnitude. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An infinity; an incalculable or very great number. [ 1913 Webster ]

Glittering chains, embroidered richly o'er
With infinite of pearls and finest gold. Fanshawe. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The Infinite Being; God; the Almighty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Computers) a series of instructions in a computer program which, when executed, cause a cyclic repetition of the same instructions, with no other action by the program, for as long as the program continues to be executed, or the loop is interrupted by some external action. [ PJC ]

☞ An infinite loop is rarely written intentionally except in cases where the loop is intended merely as a waiting sequence, to be interrupted by some action of the user. It is more commonly the result of a serious logical error on the part of the programmer, resulting in a failure of the program. Its execution can be halted only by halting execution of the program, e.g. by intervention of the operating system or by halting or resetting the computer. In single-user systems, when executing an infinite loop, the computer will appear to halt operation of the program, and the program will be unresponsive to normal keyboard input, though it may be interrupted by an unmasked interrupt. [ PJC ]

adv. 1. Without bounds or limits; beyond or below assignable limits; as, an infinitely large or infinitely small quantity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Very; exceedingly; vastly; highly; extremely. “Infinitely pleased.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being infinite; infinity; greatness; immensity. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Philosophy, Logic) A causal relationship transmitted through an indefinite number of terms in a series, with no term that begins the causal chain. [ PJC ]

a. [ Cf. F. infinitésimal, fr. infinitésime infinitely small, fr. L. infinitus. See Infinite, a. ] Infinitely or indefinitely small; less than any assignable quantity or value; very small. [ 1913 Webster ]

Infinitesimal calculus, the different and the integral calculus, when developed according to the method used by Leibnitz, who regarded the increments given to variables as infinitesimal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Math.) An infinitely small quantity; that which is less than any assignable quantity. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By infinitesimals; in infinitely small quantities; in an infinitesimal degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to the infinite mood. “Infinitival stems.” Fitzed. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. infinitivus: cf. F. infinitif. See Infinite. ] Unlimited; not bounded or restricted; undefined. [ 1913 Webster ]

Infinitive mood (Gram.), that form of the verb which merely names the action, and performs the office of a verbal noun. Some grammarians make two forms in English: (a) The simple form, as, speak, go, hear, before which to is commonly placed, as, to speak; to go; to hear. (b) The form of the imperfect participle, called the infinitive in -ing; as, going is as easy as standing. [ 1913 Webster ]

With the auxiliary verbs may, can, must, might, could, would, and should, the simple infinitive is expressed without to; as, you may speak; they must hear, etc. The infinitive usually omits to with the verbs let, dare, do, bid, make, see, hear, need, etc.; as, let me go; you dare not tell; make him work; hear him talk, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In Anglo-Saxon, the simple infinitive was not preceded by to (the sign of modern simple infinitive), but it had a dative form (sometimes called the gerundial infinitive) which was preceded by to, and was chiefly employed in expressing purpose. See Gerund, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gerundial ending (-anne) not only took the same form as the simple infinitive (-an), but it was confounded with the present participle in -ende, or -inde (later -inge). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Gram.) An infinitive form of the verb; a verb in the infinitive mood; the infinitive mood. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. (Gram.) In the manner of an infinitive mood. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ It. ] (Mus.) Infinite; perpetual, as a canon whose end leads back to the beginning. See Infinite, a., 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality or state of being infinite, or without limits; infiniteness. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Infinite extent; unlimited space; immensity; infinity. “I am who fill infinitude.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

As pleasing to the fancy, as speculations of eternity or infinitude are to the understanding. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Boundless number; countless multitude. “An infinitude of distinctions.” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. Quadruple. ] Multiplied an infinite number of times. [ R. ] Wollaston. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Infinities [ L. infinitas; pref. in- not + finis boundary, limit, end: cf. F. infinité. See Finite. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Unlimited extent of time, space, or quantity; eternity; boundlessness; immensity. Sir T. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

There can not be more infinities than one; for one of them would limit the other. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Unlimited capacity, energy, excellence, or knowledge; as, the infinity of God and his perfections. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Endless or indefinite number; great multitude; as an infinity of beauties. Broome. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Math.) A quantity greater than any assignable quantity of the same kind. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Mathematically considered, infinity is always a limit of a variable quantity, resulting from a particular supposition made upon the varying element which enters it. Davies & Peck (Math. Dict.). [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Geom.) That part of a line, or of a plane, or of space, which is infinitely distant. In modern geometry, parallel lines or planes are sometimes treated as lines or planes meeting at infinity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Circle at infinity, an imaginary circle at infinity, through which, in geometry of three dimensions, every sphere is imagined to pass. --
Circular points at infinity. See under Circular. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. (Grammar) Infinitive, uninflected; -- of verbs. Opposite of finite.
Syn. -- infinite. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. praefinitus, p. p. ] Prearranged. [ Obs. ] “ Set and prefinite time.” Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praefinitio. ] Previous limitation. [ Obs. ] Fotherby. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Gram.) A simple infinitive with to, having a modifier between the verb and the to; as in, to largely decrease. Called also cleft infinitive. The use of the split infinitive is commonly considered to be ungrammatical, but by most grammarians it is considered acceptible. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]