connotatio

Forms

connotātiō f (genitive connotātiōnis); third declension^[1][2]

Etymology

It is a noun of action formed from Medieval Latin connotō (“to mark along with, signify in addition”) + -tiō.^[3][4] The verb, a term of logic, is made from con- and notō (“to mark, note”).^[3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is in Albertus Magnus, in the 13th century.^[1] In his commentary on the Sentences it is the secondary signification of a term: the phrase “temporal procession” adds only the connotation of an effect in a creature.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It stayed a term of logic and theology for what a word signifies besides its main object.^[2][5] Robert Grosseteste uses it in his theological questions, and Wyclif says that pronouns and substantive verbs signify bare substance without any such connotation, and that esse connotes every present time.^[5]

In charters from Poland it also meant a written record (1363) and a list or register of people (1417).^[4] English borrowed it in the 1530s as connotation;^[3] Middle English medical texts had already used it for an accompanying symptom.^[3]

Timeline

• 13th century – Albertus Magnus uses it of the secondary signification of a term.^[2][1]
• 1363 – A Polish charter uses it of a written record of events.^[4]
• 1417 – A Polish document uses it of a list of the people to be settled in a village.^[4]
• 1530s – Borrowed into English as connotation.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (logic, philosophy) Connotation, secondary signification: what a term signifies besides its main object.^[2][5][4]
2. (Medieval Latin) A designation; the meaning of a word.^[6]
3. (Medieval Latin) A written note or record.^[4]
4. (Medieval Latin) A list, register, index.^[4][6]

Related words

• notātiō
• English connotation

References

1. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f g Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
5. ^ a b c Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences