finite means having an end or limit; (of a quantity) constrained by bounds; (of a set) whose number of elements is a natural number. It carries an Arena rating of 1580, earned across 9 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, finite ranks #213 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words, #3,171 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #3,499 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #4,568 of 17,131 for Scariest Words.
finite is pronounced /ˈfaɪ.naɪt/.
Why “finite” is a great word
Having an end or limit; bounded or measurable in extent, quantity, or duration. From Middle English fynyte, finit, from Latin fīnītus, the perfect passive participle of fīniō ("to finish, terminate"), from fīnis ("boundary, end"). Unlike "infinite," which denotes the absence of any boundary whatsoever, or "endless," which suggests a wearying, qualitative continuation, finite is the quiet arithmetic of edges. It is the last page of a beloved book, the final spoonful from a jar of honey, the numbered breaths in a life—each a quiet, necessary truth that gives shape and weight to all that is touchable, countable, and briefly held.
Etymology
The adjective is derived from Middle English fynyte, finit, from Latin fīnītus, perfect passive participle of fīniō (“to finish; to terminate”), from fīnis (“boundary”). The word displaced Old English ġeendodlīċ. The noun is derived from the adjective.
adj
- Having an end or limit; (of a quantity) constrained by bounds; (of a set) whose number of elements is a natural number.
- Limited by (i.e. inflected for) person or number.
- finitely generated (as a module).
noun
- A thing which has an end or limit.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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