4 adjectives to describe defining

They now no longer displaced one another, but those which came first remained fadedly beside or behind the fresher appearances, like the earlier rainbow which loses depth and color when a later arch defines itself.

As the biologist defines play as "the natural manifestation of the child's activities," so Froedel says "play at first is just natural life."

But how shall a mere mortal define in terms of paint the dwellers of the air?

But how shall a mere mortal define in terms of paint the dwellers of the air?

4 adjectives to describe  defining