WorldSeptember 3, 2026
determinative
di-TER-mi-nuh-tiv
Definition
Having the power to decide or settle a question, controversy, or legal outcome.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'determinare,' meaning to set bounds or mark the end of, which evolved through Middle French into the English word meaning to fix or conclude something.
In the news
The article uses the word to explain that a minor's purported consent is not a deciding factor in legal rulings regarding custody or protection. This is significant because it shifts the legal focus from a child's statement to their actual protection.
Pakistan court rules marriage to underage girls is child abuse
Read the full article ↗www.christiandaily.com