designation English · revision 39751

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=a1398, J. Trevisa, translation of Bartholomaeus Anglicus|origins=la signum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /dɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|dēsignātiō|t=a marking out, specification; appointment]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024) partly through [[m|fro|designacion]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(SOED 2002) and partly, especially in the obsolete sense "purpose", formed in English on [[design]] with the suffix [[-ation]].^(OED 2026) The Latin noun comes from [[m|la|dēsignō|t=to mark out, devise, choose, appoint]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(ODE 2010) formed from [[m|la|dē-|t=out]] and [[m|la|signō|t=to mark]], from [[m|la|signum|t=an identifying mark]], the source of [[sign]].^(Etymonline) The OED notes that it was sometimes confused with [[m|la|dissignātiō|t=plan, arrangement]].^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The action of marking or pointing out; indication by a word or sign: a1398, in John Trevisa's translation of Bartholomaeus Anglicus,^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline, spelled ''designacioun'', with the senses "notation, representation".^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Barnhart notes that the meanings of the Latin verb were divided in English between [[designate]] and [[design]].^(Barnhart 1988) From 1573 the noun was used in Scots law for setting apart a manse or glebe for the minister, and since 1609 more generally for setting something aside for a purpose.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) The sense "appointment or nomination to an office" appeared in 1605, in Francis Bacon.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995) Johnson (1755) gave both "the act of pointing out" and "appointment".^(Johnson 1755) The sense "a descriptive name or title" is recorded from 1614,^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) though Etymonline dates it from 1824, originally of a title or occupation added to a name;^(Etymonline) in law, from 1687, the profession and residence added to a name for identification.^(OED 2026) A ''designation'' of a wine, its guaranteed region or quality, is recorded from 1830,^(OED 2026) and the designation of a place for special status from 1839.^(OED 2026) The senses "drawing" and "purpose" are obsolete.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a1398 – the act of marking or pointing out.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1573 – (Scots law) setting apart a manse or glebe.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1605 – appointment to an office.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1614 – a descriptive name or title.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1658–1806 – (obsolete) purpose, intention.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1687 – (law) a statement of profession or residence added to a name.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1830 – the official designation of a wine.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1839 – the conferring of special status on a place.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A name, [[title]] or mark by which something is identified: ''The aircraft's official designation is a string of letters and numbers.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # The act of [[designate|alt=designating]] or the state of being designated; [[appointment]] or [[nomination]] to a post.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # The act of giving a place an official status: ''the designation of the valley as a national park''.^(OED 2026)

+ # The setting aside of something, especially money, for a particular purpose.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[redesignation]]

+ * [[self-designation]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[designate]]

+ * [[design]]

+ * [[sign]]

+ * [[signal]]

+ * [[signify]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}