decide: [14] Etymologically, decide denotes a resolving of alternatives or difficulties by cutting through them as if with a knife or a sword – dealing with them ‘at a stroke’. The word comes, perhaps via French décider, from Latin dēcidere, a compound verb formed from the prefix dē- ‘off’ and caedere ‘cut, strike’. It is not clear where this comes from, although Sanskrit khid- ‘press, tear’ has been compared.
Its other descendants in English include chisel, cement, concise, and scissors. (Other verbs for ‘decide’ which contain the basic meaning element ‘cut through’ or ‘separate’ include Latin dēcernere and German entscheiden.) => cement, chisel, concise, excise, incision, precise, scissors
decide (v.)
late 14c., "to settle a dispute," from Old French decider, from Latin decidere "to decide, determine," literally "to cut off," from de- "off" (see de-) + caedere "to cut" (see -cide). For Latin vowel change, see acquisition. Sense is of resolving difficulties "at a stroke." Meaning "to make up one's mind" is attested from 1830. Related: Decided; deciding.
双语例句
1. A dentist may decide to extract the tooth to prevent recurrent trouble.
牙医可能会决定拔掉那颗牙，以免反复发作。
来自柯林斯例句
2. He might decide that it is best to induce labour.
他也许决定最好引产。
来自柯林斯例句
3. If the clubs cannot conclude a deal, an independent tribunal will decide.
如果俱乐部之间无法达成协议，将由一个独立的仲裁委员会来裁定。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The judges could not decide which category it belonged in.
评委们无法判定它属于哪一类。
来自柯林斯例句
5. I couldn't decide whether he was incredibly brave or just insane.
