Definition:Definiens

Definition

The part of a definition that explains the meaning of the definiendum is the definiens.

Also see

• Definition:Definiendum

Linguistic Note

The word definiens is a pseudo-Latin word derived from the present active participle of dēfīniō (meaning I set bounds to or I define).

Hence its meaning that which performs the task of defining.

Sources

• 1910: Alfred North Whitehead and Bertrand Russell: Principia Mathematica: Volume $\text { 1 }$ ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text{I}$: Preliminary Explanations of Ideas and Notations
• 1946: Alfred Tarski: Introduction to Logic and to the Methodology of Deductive Sciences (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $\S \text{II}.11$: The formulation of definitions