how to say “definition” in Hebrew
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Yesterday’s entry introduced the word for fence or, more abstractly, framework. The root is ג.ד.ר (g.d.r).
A definition is something that brings clarity to a word or idea: without definition, an idea runs freely, unattainable to the mind. A definition confines it, placing a virtual fence around it.
This is the logic behind the choice of the makers of Modern Hebrew to plug the root ג.ד.ר meaning fence into the active-causative הפעיל verb form. The result is the word לְהַגְדִּיר – to define (leh-hahg-DEER).
Following the הפעיל pattern, a definition is a הַגְדָּרָה (hahg-dah-RAH).
For example:
(hahg-dah-RAHT hah-mee-LAH hee…)
.צָרִיךְ לְהַגְדִּיר אֶת הַתַּפְקִיד שֶׁלּוֹ הֵיטֵב
We need (literally, is needed) to define his role/job well.
(tsah-REEKH leh-hahg-DEER et hah-tahf-KEED sheh-LOH heh-ee-TEV)
The plural of הגדרה is also used to refer to computer settings. For example:
.שִׁנּוּי קָטָן בַּהַגְדָּרוֹת עָשׂוּי לִפְתּוֹר אֶת הַבְּעָיָה
A small change in the settings is likely to solve the problem.
(shee-NOO-ee kah-TAHN bah-hahg-dah-ROHT ah-SOO-ee leef-TOHR et hah-beh-ah-YAH)
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