different between indefinite vs generic

English

Etymology

From Late Latin ind?f?n?tus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?d?f?n?t/
• Hyphenation: in?def?i?nite

Adjective

indefinite (comparative more indefinite, superlative most indefinite)

1. Without limit; forever, or until further notice; not definite.
2. Vague or unclear.
3. Undecided or uncertain.
4. (mathematics) Being an integral without specified limits.
5. (linguistics) Designating an unspecified or unidentified person or thing or group of persons or things

   the indefinite article

Synonyms

• (without limit): unlimited, unrestricted
• (vague or unclear): hazy; see also Thesaurus:indistinct or Thesaurus:vague
• (undecided or uncertain): indeterminate, unsettled, indecisive, unsure
• (an integral without specified limits):
• (designating an unspecified thing):

Derived terms

• indefinitely
• indefinite article
• indefiniteness
• indef

Related terms

• indeterminate

Translations

Noun

indefinite (plural indefinites)

1. (grammar) A word or phrase that designates an unspecified or unidentified person or thing or group of persons or things.

Italian

Adjective

indefinite f pl

1. feminine plural of indefinito

Latin

Adjective

ind?f?n?te

1. vocative masculine singular of ind?f?n?tus

References

• indefinite in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• indefinite in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette

English

Alternative forms

• generick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle French générique, from Latin genus (“genus, kind”) + -ic.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /d???n???k/
• Hyphenation: gen?er?ic
• Rhymes: -?r?k

Adjective

generic (comparative more generic, superlative most generic)

1. very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or groups (genera) as opposed to specific instances.
   • 1864, Walter Bagehot, "Wordsworth, Tennyson, and Browning; or, Pure, Ornate, and Grotesque Art in English Poetry", in The National Review Volume 19

     […] the essence is that such self-describing poets describe what is in them, but not peculiar to them, – what is generic, not what is special and individual.

2. lacking in precision, often in an evasive fashion; vague; imprecise
3. (of a product or drug) not having a brand name; nonproprietary in design or contents
4. (taxonomy) pertaining to a taxon at the rank of genus
5. relating to gender
6. (grammar) specifying neither masculine nor feminine; epicene

   Words like salesperson and firefighter are generic.

7. (computing, of procedures) written so as to operate on any data type, the type required being passed as a parameter
8. (geometry, of a point) having coordinates that are algebraically independent over the base field

Synonyms

• (comprehensive): broad, general, classic; see also Thesaurus:generic
• (lacking in precision): fuzzy, indefinite; see also Thesaurus:vague
• (lacking a brand): unbranded

Antonyms

• (comprehensive): specific, particular, concrete; see also Thesaurus:specific
• (lacking a brand): non-generic, proprietary, branded
• (neither masculine nor feminine): gendered

Derived terms

• genericity
• genericness
• generic you

Translations

Noun

generic (plural generics)

1. A product sold under a generic name.
2. A wine that is a blend of several wines, or made from a blend of several grape varieties.
3. (grammar) A term that specifies neither male nor female.

Translations

Related terms

• gender
• genus

Anagrams

• energic

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French générique.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d?e?ne.rik/

Adjective

generic m or n (feminine singular generic?, masculine plural generici, feminine and neuter plural generice)

1. generic

Declension

Noun

generic n (plural generice)

1. (television, film) credits, titles

Declension