predetermine

views updated

pre·de·ter·mine / ˌprēdiˈtərmən/ • v. [tr.] establish or decide in advance: closed questions almost predetermine the response given | [as adj.] (predetermined) a predetermined level of spending. ∎  (usu. be predetermined) predestine (an outcome or course of events): a strong sense that life had been predetermined.DERIVATIVES: pre·de·ter·min·a·ble adj.pre·de·ter·mi·nate / -ˈtərmənit/ adj.pre·de·ter·mi·na·tion / -ˌtərməˈnāshən/ n.