determinative

Noun · Adjective

Synonyms: determiner determinant determining factor causal factor deciding determining

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

one of a limited class of noun modifiers that determine the referents of noun phrasesSynonyms: determiner
a determining or causal element or factor“education is an important determinant of one's outlook on life”Synonyms: determinant determiner determining factor causal factor

Adjective (1)

having the power or quality of deciding“the crucial experiment”“cast the deciding vote”“the determinative (or determinant) battle”Synonyms: deciding determinant determining

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Determinative \De*ter"mi*na*tive\, n. That which serves to determine. [1913 Webster]

Explanatory determinatives . . . were placed after words phonetically expressed, in order to serve as an aid to the reader in determining the meaning. --I. Taylor (The Alphabet). [1913 Webster]

Determinative \De*ter"mi*na*tive\, a. [Cf. F. d['e]terminatif.] Having power to determine; limiting; shaping; directing; conclusive. [1913 Webster]

Incidents . . . determinative of their course. --I. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

Determinative tables (Nat. Hist.), tables presenting the specific character of minerals, plants, etc., to assist in determining the species to which a specimen belongs. [1913 Webster]