indefinite
part of speech
adjective
meaning for a pupil
1) Not clear or exact: an indefinite answer. tree →
2) Without a fixed end or limit: an indefinite stay. tree →
3) (grammar) «indefinite article» = «a» or «an». tree →
sense in the lessons
In grammar lessons «a» and «an» are indefinite articles and «the» is the definite article; in news something closed «for an indefinite time» means nobody knows when it will open. Phrases: «indefinite article», «for an indefinite period», «indefinitely».
examples
- The pool is closed for an indefinite time. tree →
- «A» and «an» are indefinite articles. tree →
- Her plans were indefinite. tree →
- He went to stay with his aunt for an indefinite period. tree →
- We say «a cat» because the cat is indefinite — any cat. tree →
- The match was put off indefinitely. tree →
- Nyx again, on her side was also doubly united, having been married at some indefinite period to Erebus. tree →
note
Prefix in- = not: indefinite = not definite. Adverb: indefinitely (= with no end set). In maths, an «indefinite» number is not given — you cannot work out an exact total without it.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «indefinite» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.