a. [ L. indefinitus. See In- not, and Definite. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. Not definite; not limited, defined, or specified; not explicit; not determined or fixed upon; not precise; uncertain; vague; confused; obscure; as, an indefinite time, plan, etc. [ 1913 Webster ] It were to be wished that . . . men would leave off that indefinite way of vouching, “the chymists say this, ” or “the chymists affirm that.” Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ] The time of this last is left indefinite. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Having no determined or certain limits; large and unmeasured, though not infinite; unlimited; as, indefinite space; the indefinite extension of a straight line. [ 1913 Webster ] Though it is not infinite, it may be indefinite; though it is not boundless in itself, it may be so to human comprehension. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Boundless; infinite. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Indefinite and omnipresent God,
Inhabiting eternity. W. Thompson (1745). [ 1913 Webster ] 4. (Bot.) Too numerous or variable to make a particular enumeration important; -- said of the parts of a flower, and the like. Also, indeterminate. [ 1913 Webster ]
Indefinite article (Gram.), the word a or an, used with nouns to denote any one of a common or general class. --
Indefinite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Indeterminate inflorescence, under Indeterminate. --
Indefinite proposition (Logic), a statement whose subject is a common term, with nothing to indicate distribution or nondistribution; as, Man is mortal. --
Indefinite term (Logic), a negative term; as, the not-good.
Syn. -- Inexplicit; vague; uncertain; unsettled; indeterminate; loose; equivocal; inexact; approximate. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
