deliberate

English

Etymology

From Latin deliberatus, past participle of delibero (I consider, weigh well), from dē- + *libero, libro (I weigh), from *libera, libra (a balance); see librate.

Pronunciation

  • (adjective):
    • enPR: dĭlĭbʹərət, IPA(key): /dɪˈlɪbəɹət/
    • (weak vowel merger) enPR: dəlĭbʹərət, IPA(key): /dəˈlɪbəɹət/
    • (file)
  • (verb):
    • enPR: dĭlĭbʹərāt, IPA(key): /dɪˈlɪbəɹeɪt/
    • (weak vowel merger) enPR: dəlĭbʹərāt, IPA(key): /dəˈlɪbəɹeɪt/
    • (file)
  • Hyphenation: de‧lib‧er‧ate

Adjective

deliberate (comparative more deliberate, superlative most deliberate)

  1. Done on purpose; intentional.
    Synonyms: purposeful, volitional; see also Thesaurus:intentional
    Antonyms: unintentional, unwitting
    Tripping me was a deliberate action.
  2. Formed with deliberation; carefully considered; not sudden or rash.
    Synonyms: careful, cautious, well-advised; see also Thesaurus:cautious
    a deliberate opinion; a deliberate measure or result
  3. Of a person, weighing facts and arguments with a view to a choice or decision; carefully considering the probable consequences of a step; slow in determining.
    Synonyms: circumspect, thoughtful
    The jury took eight hours to come to its deliberate verdict.
  4. Not hasty or sudden; slow.
    • 1803, William Wirt, The Letters of the British Spy:
      His enunciation was so deliberate.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

deliberate (third-person singular simple present deliberates, present participle deliberating, simple past and past participle deliberated)

  1. (transitive) To consider carefully; to weigh well in the mind.
    It is now time for the jury to deliberate the guilt of the defendant.
  2. (intransitive) To consider the reasons for and against anything; to reflect.

Synonyms

Translations

Further reading

Italian

Verb

deliberate

  1. second-person plural present and imperative of deliberare

Latin

Verb

dēlīberāte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of dēlīberō

References

Spanish

Verb

deliberate

  1. second-person singular voseo imperative of deliberar combined with te
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