[[A definite article is a bound morph that occurs in a nominal and indicates that the nominal is definite.]]
definite pronoun/article (CXN) = this term is applied to referring phrases – pronouns and articles combined with nouns – that are associated with the top end of the information status continuum, where the identity of the referent is already known to both speaker and hearer. This includes active, semi-active, inactive, and inferrable referents. Example: the glass bowl is an example of a definite referring phrase, used in a context where the individual glass bowl in question is identifiable by both speaker and hearer (Table 3.4, Section 3.3.1)
"Whenever we use a definite article, ... we presuppose that reference is made to an object or entity that is unique and therefore clearly identifiable in a given context." (König 2018: 168)