definite description
Britishnoun
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a description that is modified by the definite article or a possessive, such as the woman in white or Rosemary's baby
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a similar plural expression, such as the kings of Scotland
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A definite description is a way of analyzing names and object terms for the purpose of making them more like predicates.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
In a sense, this process of disambiguating the reference for the name “Kevin” is a process of seeking a more definite description to supplement the proper name.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
Whatever they are, they are things with a right to definite description and to careful observation.
From Memories and Studies by James, Henry
Thus 'a man' is an ambiguous description, and 'the man with the iron mask' is a definite description.
From The Problems of Philosophy by Russell, Bertrand
Taking it to be a sort of request for a more definite description, he continued,— "A blate and fearsome sort of a fellow, you know."
From The Shadow of a Crime A Cumbrian Romance by Caine, Hall, Sir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
