determiner
determiner Lexical Profile
determiner Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A modifying word or phrase (such as an article, demonstrative, possessive, or quantifier) that precedes a noun to specify its reference, quantity, or definiteness.
"In the phrase "those three books," both "those" and "three" function as determiners modifying the noun."
A person, factor, or circumstance that decisively influences, settles, or controls the nature or outcome of something.
"Early childhood nutrition is a major determiner of long-term physical health."
Word Nuance & Usage
In grammar, "determiner" is strictly used for words that introduce noun phrases (such as "the", "this", or "many"), whereas "determinant" is generally preferred for a decisive causal factor or the mathematical matrix value.
• Rhymes for determiner
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English as an agent noun from the verb "determine" (from Old French determiner, from Latin determinare, meaning "to enclose within limits") plus the suffix "-er"; the grammatical sense was coined by American linguist Leonard Bloomfield in 1933.