definiens

noun

de·​fin·​i·​ens di-ˈfi-nē-ˌenz 

plural definientia di-ˌfi-nē-ˈen(t)-shē-ə 

: an expression that defines : definition

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin dēfīniens, from present participle of dēfīnīre "to mark the limits of, determine, define"

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above