definiendum

American  

[dih-fin-ee-en-duhm] / dɪˌfɪn iˈɛn dəm /

noun

plural

definienda

1. something that is or is to be defined, especially the term at the head of a dictionary entry.

2. Logic. an expression to be defined in terms of another expression previously defined.

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definiendum British  

/ dɪˌfɪnɪˈɛndəm /

noun

1. something to be defined, esp the term or phrase to be accounted for in a dictionary entry Compare definiens

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Etymology

Origin of definiendum

First recorded in 1870–75; from Latin dēfīniendum, neuter gerundive of dēfīnīre “to limit, define”; define

Example Sentences

Even in Cambridge, till 1877, teachers and professors, save those of Law or Medicine, were generally speaking in holy orders; for instance, the following extract, of date 1849, which I owe to the kindness of Dr Donald MacAlister, “Cæterum neminem in socium unquam admitti volumus qui non sit aut Theologiam professurus et sacros ordines post certum temporis intervallum inferius definiendum suscepturus aut e Collegio discessurus, nisi unus e duobus sociis qui Medicinæ aut ex illis duobus qui Juris Civilis studio deputati sunt, electus fuerit.”

From Project Gutenberg

But as Professor Arrow warns his colleagues on this point: A definition is just a definition, but when the definiendum is a word already in common use with highly favorable connotations, it is clear that we are really trying to be persuasive; we are implicitly recommending the achievement of optimal states.

From New York Times