notion
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈnəʊʃən/ (UK); /ˈnoʊʃən/ (US)[1]
Etymology
It is borrowed from Latin notio (“a becoming acquainted; a concept, idea”),[2][3][4] from not-, the past participle stem of nōscere (“to come to know”) (see know),[2][4][5] from PIE Proto-Indo-European *gno- (“to know”).[3] Cicero coined it as a loan-translation of Greek ennoia, thinking, or prolēpsis, a previous conception.[3]
Earliest recorded meaning
A concept or conception: before 1398, in Trevisa's translation of Bartholomew;[2] the late 14th century in Etymonline.[3]
Semantic evolution
Inclination or desire is from 1450.[2] A general concept under which a thing is comprehended is from 1567,[6] and an opinion or somewhat vague belief from about 1600.[3] A whim or not very rational inclination is by 1746.[3] Notions, small articles such as sewing goods sold by Yankee peddlers, is American English by 1803.[3]
Timeline
- before 1398 – a concept.[2]
- 1450 – inclination.[2]
- c. 1600 – an opinion.[3]
- 1746 – a whim.[3]
- 1803 – notions, small wares.[3]
Modern meaning
Noun
- A belief or idea; an opinion.
- A general understanding; a vague idea: no notion of time.
- A sudden desire or whim.
- (notions, chiefly US) Small useful articles such as buttons and thread.
Word family
- notionless
- notionate
- prenotion
- notional
Related words
References
- ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press