Undeterminate

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Not fixed, settled, or decided; remaining uncertain or indefinite in nature or outcome
2. Not having a clear resolution or defined parameters, resulting in a state of ambiguity and uncertainty in meaning or consequences
3. Lacking a definitive decision or established boundaries, this term indicates a state of uncertainty and ambiguity regarding its implications or outcomes

Etymology: "Undeterminate" is simply the English prefix "un-", meaning "not", attached to "determinate," which means having fixed limits or a definite, settled form. "Determinate" itself comes from Latin "determinatus," the past participle of "determinare," "to bound or set limits to," built from "de-" and "terminus," "end" or "boundary." So the word's core idea is a boundary: something with no boundary drawn yet is "undeterminate." The "un-" prefix is productive in English, which is why many words of this pattern turn up, and "undeterminate" follows that familiar pattern of negating an adjective from Latin. Its sense is close to "indeterminate," and the two are often used interchangeably, though "undeterminate" is the less common form.

Synonyms: indeterminate, undefined

Antonyms: determinate, fixed