All 8 Uses of
determine
in
Utopia, by Thomas More
- Though these principles of religion are conveyed down among them by tradition, they think that even reason itself determines a man to believe and acknowledge them;†
*determines = controls (how something will turn out)
- for if laws were made to determine at how great an extent in soil, and at how much money, every man must stop—to limit the prince, that he might not grow too great;†
- No family may have less than ten and more than sixteen persons in it, but there can be no determined number for the children under age; this rule is easily observed by removing some of the children of a more fruitful couple to any other family that does not abound so much in them.†
- Their law does not determine the punishment for other crimes, but that is left to the Senate, to temper it according to the circumstances of the fact.†
- These practices of the princes that lie about Utopia, who make so little account of their faith, seem to be the reasons that determine them to engage in no confederacy.†
- Great numbers of them will frequently go out, and offer themselves for a very low pay, to serve any that will employ them: they know none of the arts of life, but those that lead to the taking it away; they serve those that hire them, both with much courage and great fidelity; but will not engage to serve for any determined time, and agree upon such terms, that the next day they may go over to the enemies of those whom they serve if they offer them a greater encouragement; and will, perhaps, return to them the day after that upon a higher advance of their pay.†
- I shall not determine whether this proceeded from any secret inspiration of God, or whether it was because it seemed so favourable to that community of goods, which is an opinion so particular as well as so dear to them; since they perceived that Christ and His followers lived by that rule, and that it was still kept up in some communities among the sincerest sort of Christians.†
- He judged it not fit to determine anything rashly; and seemed to doubt whether those different forms of religion might not all come from God, who might inspire man in a different manner, and be pleased with this variety; he therefore thought it indecent and foolish for any man to threaten and terrify another to make him believe what did not appear to him to be true.†
Definitions:
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(1)
(determined as in: is determined to succeed) firm in purpose
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(2)
(determine as in: determined she is guilty) to learn, discover, or decide
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(3)
(determine as in: this game determines the champion) to control (how something will turn out)
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(4)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
See a comprehensive dictionary for specialized meanings used in law, math, and logic.