different between definite vs telling

English

Etymology

From Latin d?f?n?tus, past participle of d?f?ni?, whence also English define.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d?f?n?t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?d?f?n?t/, /?d?f?n?t/

Adjective

definite (comparative more definite, superlative most definite)

1. Having distinct limits.

   definite dimensions; a definite measure; a definite period or interval

   • 1837, William Whewell, History of the Inductive Sciences, London: John W. Parker, Volume 3, Book 14, Chapter 8, p. 145,^[1]

     […] elements combine in definite proportions […]

2. Free from any doubt.

   Synonym: unquestionable

   definite knowledge

3. Determined; resolved; decided.
   • c. 1609, William Shakespeare, Cymbeline, Act I, Scene 6,^[2]

     […] idiots in this case of favour would

     Be wisely definite;

4. (linguistics) Designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thing, or group of persons or things

   the definite article

Antonyms

• indefinite

Derived terms

• definite article
• definitely

Related terms

• define
• definitive
• indefinite

Translations

Noun

definite (plural definites)

1. (grammar) A word or phrase that designates a specified or identified person or entity.
2. (obsolete) Anything that is defined or determined.

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /de.fi?ni.te/

Verb

definite

1. second-person plural indicative present of definire
2. second-person plural imperative present of definire

Adjective

definite

1. feminine plural of definito

Latin

Verb

d?f?n?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of d?f?ni?

References

• definite in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t?l??/
• Rhymes: -?l??

Etymology 1

Verb

telling

1. present participle of tell

Adjective

telling (comparative more telling, superlative most telling)

1. Having force, or having a marked effect; weighty, effective.

2. Revealing information; bearing significance.
3. Serving to convince.

Derived terms

• tellingly
• tellingness

Etymology 2

Gerund from the verb tell, from tell +? -ing.

Noun

telling (plural tellings)

1. The act of narration.
2. The disclosure of information.
3. (archaic) Counting, numbering.
4. (chiefly in the negative) Ability to determine.

Synonyms

• (counting, numbering): enumeration; see also Thesaurus:counting

Anagrams

• gillnet

Dutch

Etymology

From tellen +? -ing.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: tel?ling

Noun

telling f (plural tellingen, diminutive tellinkje n)

1. counting, count

Derived terms

• jaartelling

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From telle +? -ing.

Noun

telling f or m (definite singular tellinga or tellingen, indefinite plural tellinger, definite plural tellingene)

1. counting, a count (act of counting)

Derived terms

• folketelling
• nedtelling

See also

• teljing (Nynorsk)

References

• “telling” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “telling” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).

West Frisian

Etymology

From telle +? -ing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t?l??/

Noun

telling c (plural tellingen)

1. counting, count

Derived terms

• jiertelling

Further reading

• “telling”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011