infinite 'InfInIt, a. (adv.) and sb. Forms: 4-6 infynyt(e, 4-7 infinit, (5 infenite, 6 infinyte, infynit(e, Sc. infineit), 4- infinite.
Etymology: ad. L. infinit-us unbounded, unlimited, f. in- (in-[3]) + finit-us finite; perh. orig. through OFr. infinit, -ite (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), later infini (Oresme, 14th c.). In hymns sometimes rimed with -aIt.
A adj.
1 a Having no limit or end (real or assignable); boundless, unlimited, endless; immeasurably great in extent, duration, or other respect. Chiefly of God or His attributes; also of space, time, etc., in which it passes into the mathematical use (4 b).
b In loose or hyperbolical sense: Indefinitely or exceedingly great; exceeding measurement or calculation; immense, vast.
c Occupying an indefinitely long time; immensely long, very tedious, `endless'. (Used predicatively, with inf. or with personal subj.: cf. long.) Obs.
d infinite regress (see quots.).
2 with sb. pl. Unlimited or indefinitely great in number; innumerable, very many, `no end of'. Now arch. or rare.
3 Indefinite in nature, meaning, etc.; indeterminate. Obs.
4 Math. a Having no determined limit; of indefinite length or magnitude. Obs.
b Of a quantity or magnitude: Having no limit; greater than any assignable quantity or magnitude (opp. to finite). Of a line or surface: Extending indefinitely without limit, and not returning into itself at any finite distance (opp. to closed).
c infinite series: a series of quantities or expressions which may be indefinitely continued without ever coming to an end (but may or may not have a finite value or `limit' to which it approaches as more and more terms are taken: see converging 2, divergent 4). So infinite decimal.
5 Mus. Applied to a form of musical structure which can be repeated infinitely.
6 Law. distress infinite: see distress sb. 3 b.
7 Gram. Applied to those parts of the verb which are not limited by person or number; viz. those verbal sbs. and adjs. which have certain verbal properties, the Infinitive `Mood', Gerunds, Supines, and Participles. Opposed to finite.
8 Logic. A rendering of Schol.L. infinitus, applied to a negative term, etc.; infinitated.
B adv. = infinitely: usually in hyperbolical sense = very greatly. Obs.
C absol. or as sb.
1 That which is infinite, or has no limit; an infinite being, thing, quantity, extent, etc. Now almost always in sing. with the; esp. as a designation of the Deity or the absolute Being.
2 In hyperbolical use: An exceedingly large amount or number; a very great quantity or multitude; very much or many; `no end'.
a absol. (from A. 2: always in plural sense.) Obs.
b Const. of, with no defining word prefixed.
c With article or other defining word prefixed; usually const. of. Formerly also in pl. (cf. mod. colloq. lots, heaps, oceans).
3 Phr. in infinite, to infinite, = L. in or ad infinitum (see infinitum); endlessly. Obs.
4 Math. An infinite quantity: see A. 4 b. [ Different orders of infinites are distinguished, each infinitely greater than the preceding: cf. infinitesimal B. 1. ]
finite 'faInaIt, a. and sb. Also 5-6 fynyte.
Etymology: ad. L. finit-us, pa. pple. of finire to put an end to, bound, limit, f. finis end, limit.
A adj.
1 Fixed, determined, definite. Obs.
2 a Having bounds, ends, or limits; bounded, limited; opposed to infinite.
b Having an existence subject to limitations and conditions.
3 Math. Of a line: Terminated. Of a quantity, number, distance: Limited, neither infinite nor infinitesimal. Of a group: Containing a limited number of substitutions. Of a solution: Resulting in a finite quantity. finite difference: a difference between two quantities that is finite; spec., any of the differences between the successive values of a function when its independent variable takes on the values of an arithmetical progression. finite points: such as are not at an infinite distance apart. finite series (see quot. c 1865). finite state: used attrib. in communication theory of any system limited to a finite number of alternative states, or of a type that, even if it contains an infinite number of parts, is producible by a generative device so limited.
4 Gram. Of a verb: Limited by number and person; not in the infinitive mood.
5 Music. (See quot.)
App. misused for infinite.
B quasi-sb.
1 a The adj. used absolutely.
b the finite: that which is finite.
2 A finite thing; a finite being: see A. 2.
3 Gram. A finite verb or verb-form.