and will not auto-vivify them

defined will not autovivify either: 

my @array;
if (defined $array[20]) { }                           # no autovivific
+ation, thus
if (defined $array[20]) { warn "[20] does exist!" }   # no warning

[download]

Typically, it's a dereferencing operation that unexpededly autovivifies.  exists shares the same problem: 

my @array;
if (exists $array[20]->[42]) { }
if (exists $array[20]) { warn "[20] does exist!" }

__END__
[20] does exist! at ./808911.pl line 5.

[download]

In reply to Re^2: Erroneous defined detection of array elements by almut
in thread Erroneous defined detection of array elements by Anonymous Monk

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