decisive English · revision 39547

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1584, Richard Cosin|origins=la dēcīdō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /dɪˈsaɪsɪv/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is partly [[bor|frm|decisif|t=definitive, conclusive]], recorded from 1413, and partly [[bor|la-med|dēcīsīvus]], found in British and continental sources from the 13th century.^(OED 2026)^(ODE 2010)^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline) The Latin adjective is formed on [[m|la|dēcīsus]], the past participle of [[m|la|dēcīdō|t=to cut off; to decide]], the verb behind [[decide]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Settling a dispute or contest conclusively: 1584, in Richard Cosin's ''Answer to the Two First and Principal Treatises''.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline gives the 1610s, Dictionary.com 1605–15 and the Shorter Oxford the early 17th century.^(Etymonline)^(Dictionary.com 2016)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The first sense describes things that decide: a battle, an argument or a piece of evidence that ends a question.^(OED 2026)^(AHD 2024) Johnson (1755) defined it as "having the power of determining any difference" and "conclusive".^(Johnson 1755) The sense describing people, resolute and able to make up one's mind, is found in English from 1658, in a translation from French, where ''décisif'' had this meaning by 1652;^(OED 2026) Etymonline dates "marked by prompt determination" to 1736.^(Etymonline) From 1800 the word could also mean distinct or unmistakable, like [[decided]].^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024) As a noun, ''decisive'' was something that brings about a decision (1675), now mostly the deciding run in baseball.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1584 – conclusive, settling a question.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1658 – of a person, resolute.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1675 – the noun, something that decides.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1736 – marked by prompt determination, in Etymonline's dating.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1800 – unmistakable, marked.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Settling an issue or conflict; [[conclusive]]: ''the decisive goal came in extra time''.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Able to make [[decision]]s quickly and firmly; [[resolute]].^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Beyond doubt; unmistakable: ''a decisive lead in the polls''.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[decisively]]

+ * [[decisiveness]]

+ * [[nondecisive]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[decidable]]

+ * [[decide]]

+ * [[decided]]

+ * [[decision]]

+ * [[indecisive]]

+ * [[incisive]]

+ * [[concise]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}