It's not popular incorrect usage, it's an official term to kill a motion. If you want to be a purist, you should know that undefined does not mean the same as indefinitely.
As to the other, first hits I found when I googled the respective definitions of "undefined" and "indefinite: "
undefined [??nd??fa?nd] adj
not defined or made clear the job has remained undefined
undefinable adj
in·def·i·nite (n-df-nt)
adj.
Not definite, especially:
a. Unclear; vague.
b. Lacking precise limits: an indefinite leave of absence.
c. Uncertain; undecided: indefinite about their plans.
Note that both definitions lead off with "not defined/ite" and "not clear/unclear. " Note also that no meaning of the latter conveys the sense of "canceled or reversed. " Usage in parliamentary procedure doesn't really have much force to alter that: After a failed filibuster of a Clinton judicial nominee former Majority Leader Bill Frist once introduced a "motion to postpone the vote" on confirmation; despite the language, it was no postponement but a (successful) attempt to kill the vote entirely, and the judge in question was later reappointed by Clinton during a Congressional recess. That legislators routinely take liberties with plain language is no secret, nor reason to revise the meaning of said language.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/indefinite
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/undefined
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Meanwhile, the Wedding Is Postponed Indefinitely.
01/06/2010 09:17:35 AM
- 1133 Views
You meant postponed until further notice
01/06/2010 10:44:30 AM
- 644 Views
How so?
01/06/2010 10:56:48 AM
- 559 Views
The phrase "postponed indefinitely" is what I'm referring to
01/06/2010 12:01:59 PM
- 519 Views
It IS indefinite though.
01/06/2010 12:17:07 PM
- 669 Views
I think the point is popular use,,,
01/06/2010 12:19:05 PM
- 623 Views
I'm frequently accused of prescriptivism, and don't deny it.
01/06/2010 12:22:39 PM
- 659 Views
You might want to cater for your audience a bit better
01/06/2010 05:07:28 PM
- 676 Views
They will do as they're told or be severely beaten111
01/06/2010 05:33:22 PM
- 552 Views
It's a phrase used in government regarding motions
01/06/2010 08:13:42 PM
- 588 Views
Postponed/=canceled.
01/06/2010 08:51:14 PM
- 737 Views
The meaning of a commonly used phrase isn't a sum of the definitions of its parts.
02/06/2010 09:28:29 AM
- 636 Views
Wow. This is the most impressive trolling I've seen in quite some time.
02/06/2010 07:42:02 PM
- 710 Views
No, I just have a hard time dealing with people who can't admit a simple mistake *NM*
03/06/2010 07:21:30 AM
- 304 Views
I must say, my first thought on reading your title was that you'd split up.
01/06/2010 11:20:45 PM
- 621 Views
In retrospect, I can certainly see why it would be read that way, but it's not what the words mean.
02/06/2010 01:14:20 AM
- 682 Views
My country is a
01/06/2010 07:09:22 PM
- 547 Views
One thing I learned in the USA was never to say "we met on the internet" to immigration officials.
01/06/2010 11:18:39 PM
- 734 Views
Well, yeah, but the alternative is to be deceptive, if not outright dishonest.
02/06/2010 01:27:17 AM
- 743 Views