1. To make a choice or come to a conclusion about something: "Fortunately, we decided not to go on the trip because there was a severe storm."

"Her son was having a problem deciding which university to go to."

2. To make someone choose what to do or come to a conclusion about something: "You have to decide which presidential candidate you want to vote for."
3. To bring something to an end in a definite or obvious way: "The final football touchdown decided the winner of the game."
4. To come to a verdict or judgment after thinking about it: "They decided to start the party at 7 p.m. and so they informed their guests accordingly."
5. Etymology: from or French décider; from Latin decidere "to cut off" from the prefix de-, "off" + caedere "to cut, to strike".

"The term decide refers to a resolving of alternatives or difficulties by "cutting through them as if with a knife or a sword" and so dealing with them "at a stroke" or with "one complete action".