decide
 de·cide (dĭ-sīdʹ)v. de·cid·ed, de·cid·ing, de·cidesv. tr.
1.
a. To settle conclusively all contention or uncertainty about:
decide a case; decided the dispute in favor of the workers.
b. To make up one's mind about:
decide what to do.
2. To influence or determine the outcome of:
A few votes decided the election.
3. To cause to make or reach a decision.v. intr.
1. To pronounce a judgment; announce a verdict.
2. To make up one's mind. [Middle English deciden, from Old French decider, from Latin dēcīdere, to cut off, decide : dē-, de- + caedere, to cut; See kaə-id- in Indo-European Roots.] de·cid·a·bilʹi·ty n.de·cidʹa·ble adj.de·cidʹer n.
Synonyms: decide, determine, settle, rule, conclude, resolve
These verbs mean to come to a decision. Decide is the least specific: “If two laws conflict with each other, the courts must decide on the operation of each” (John Marshall). Determine often involves somewhat narrower issues: A jury will determine the verdict. Settle stresses finality of decision: “The lama waved a hand to show that the matter was finally settled in his mind” (Rudyard Kipling). Rule implies that the decision is handed down by someone in authority: The committee ruled that changes in the curriculum should be implemented. Conclude suggests that a decision, opinion, or judgment has been arrived at after careful consideration: She concluded that the criticism was unjust. Resolve stresses the exercise of choice in making a firm decision: I resolved to lose weight.
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