determinant
Cross references:
1. cause
de.ter.mi.nant \-'t*rm-(*-)n*nt\ n 1: something that determines or
conditions : FACTOR 2: a square array of numbers bordered on either side
by a straight line wit h a value that is the algebraic sum of all the
products that can be formed by taking as factors one element in succession
from each row and column and giving to each product a positive or negative
sign depending upon whether the number of permutations necessary to place
the indices representing each factor's position in its row or column in the
order of the natural numbers is odd or even 3: GENE; broadly : a comparable
subordinate agent (as a plasm agene)