左右、決定結果
從「把事實定下來」延伸到「把結果定下來」：不是你去查明，而是一件事本身就替另一件事劃定了走向。
shape the outcome · verb · C1
If one thing determines another, it directly shapes or controls how that other thing turns out.
決定（影響結果）
核心畫面
Think of drawing a firm boundary line that settles something for good — pinning a vague thing down to one fixed answer. Whether you pin it down by investigating, by causing it, by ruling on it, or by resolving in your own mind, the move is the same: turn 'uncertain' into 'fixed'.
可以想成在一團不確定的東西上，畫下一條清楚的界線，把它「定住、釘死成一個答案」。不管是靠調查去查明、靠影響去左右結果…更多收起
可以想成在一團不確定的東西上，畫下一條清楚的界線，把它「定住、釘死成一個答案」。不管是靠調查去查明、靠影響去左右結果、靠權力去裁定、還是在心裡打定主意——動作都一樣：把「還沒定」變成「定下來」。determine 的核心，就是這個「使之確定」的手勢。From the word’s history
From Latin 'determinare' = to set limits / mark the boundary (de- 'completely' + terminare 'to bound, set a limit', the root of 'terminus', 'terminate'). So at root it means to draw the final line around something.
源自拉丁文 determinare，意為「劃定界線、定下限界」（de-「徹底地」+ terminare「設界、終止」，和 terminus 終點、terminate 結束同源）。可以想成它本義就是「在某件事周圍畫下最後一條線」——把事情圈定、定案，正好就是現代各種用法共同的那個核心。
Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), s.v. 'determine'
From the picture
正式裁定
同樣是「定案」，但這條線是由有權力的人或機構正式畫下的，帶有官方拍板的味道。
officially decide · verb · C1
To officially decide something, often by a person or group with the power to do so.
裁定 / 正式決定
下定決心
把「劃定界線」轉向自己內心：在心裡替自己定下一個非做不可的決定，這也是形容詞 determined（堅定的）的來源。
resolve to do · verb · C1
To decide firmly that you will do something. Used in the pattern "determine to do something".
下定決心
Also in this word
find out · verb · C1
To find out the true facts about something, often by looking closely or testing.
查明 / 確定
原始詞典資料8 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
determineverb/dɪˈtɜː(ɹ).mɪn/
- 1
To set the boundaries or limits of.
- [God] hath determined the times before appointed.
- The knowledge of men hitherto hath been determined by the view or sight.
- 2
To ascertain definitely; to figure out, find out, or conclude by analyzing, calculating, or investigating.
- Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine. The machine gun is so much more lethal than the bow and arrow that comparisons are meaningless.
- 3
To fix the form or character of; to shape; to prescribe imperatively; to regulate; to settle.
- The character of the soul is determined by the character of its God.
- something divinely beautiful […] that at some time or other might influence or even determine her course of life
- 4
To fix the course of; to impel and direct; with a remoter object preceded by to.
- The news of his father's illness determined him to depart immediately.
- 5
To bring to a conclusion, as a question or controversy; to settle authoritative or judicial sentence; to decide.
- The court has determined the cause.
- 6
To resolve (to do something); to establish a fixed intention; to cause (something) to come to a conclusion or decision; to lead.
- I determined to go home at once.
- 7
human-scienceslogicmathematicsTo define or limit by adding a differentia.
- 8
lawTo bring to an end, finish; to come to an end, stop, end.
- Novv, vvhere is hee, that vvill not ſtay ſo long Till his Friend ſickneſſe hath determin'd me?
- […] whose assemblies are continued […] for the space of seven moons, after which their authority determines, and writs are issued for new elections.
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。