denotative

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈdinoʊˌteɪtɪv/ UK /dɪˈnəʊtətɪv/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
relating to the literal meaning of a word rather than its associations

The denotative sense of 'home' is simply one's dwelling.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to the literal... literal explicit referentialdesignative

Opposites

connotative figurative suggestive

Word family

Derived forms denotatively

Related forms denote denotation connotative

Etymology

Formed from denotate (from Latin denotatus) plus the suffix -ive; from Latin denotare ('to mark out, denote'), from de- (intensive) plus notare ('to mark'), from nota ('mark, sign').

denotare Latin nota Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# denotative

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈdinoʊˌteɪtɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈnəʊtətɪv/

## Meanings
1. relating to the literal meaning of a word rather than its associations

## Examples
- The denotative sense of 'home' is simply one's dwelling.

## Synonyms
- literal
- explicit
- referential
- designative

## Antonyms
- connotative
- figurative
- suggestive

## Derived Forms
- denotatively

## Related Forms
- denote
- denotation
- connotative

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: denotare
- Root: nota

## Etymology
Formed from denotate (from Latin denotatus) plus the suffix -ive; from Latin denotare ('to mark out, denote'), from de- (intensive) plus notare ('to mark'), from nota ('mark, sign').

## AI Etymology
Denotative was formed from denotate (from Latin denotatus) plus the suffix -ive; from Latin denotare ('to mark out, denote'), from de- (intensive) plus notare ('to mark'), from nota ('mark, sign'). The etymological trail includes Latin denotare and Latin nota. As an adjective, denotative describes what is relating to the literal meaning of a word rather than its associations. The same family is visible in derived forms such as denotatively and related forms such as denote, denotation, and connotative. The analysis is partly morphological, with the modern form built from the elements named in the history.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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