indicate English · revision 5808

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1651|origins=la indico}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɪn.dɪ.keɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|indicāre|t=to point out, show]], from its past participle indicātus,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) or a back-formation from [[indication]];^(Etymonline) the Latin verb is from [[m|la|in-|t=towards]] and [[m|la|dicāre|t=to proclaim, make known]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from PIE [[ine-pro|*deik-|t=to show]] (compare [[diction]] and [[index]]).^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To point out or make known: 1651 in the OED, the 1650s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The participle indicate, “indicated”, is from 1541, the date MWU gives.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To be a sign of, to give reason for inferring, is from 1706.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) To state briefly is from 1751, and of a person, to point out or direct attention to, from 1808.^(OED 1989) In medicine, a treatment is ''indicated'' when the symptoms suggest it.^(SOED 2002)^(AHD) A motorist's signalling a turn is from 1970.^(OED 1989) ''Indication'' is from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1541 – indicate, indicated.^(OED 1989)

+ * 16th century – ''indication''.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1651 – to point out.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1706 – to be a sign of.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1751 – to state briefly.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1970 – to signal a turn.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To be a [[sign]] of something; to suggest.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To point out or show.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To state briefly.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a [[meter]] or gauge, to show a reading.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(British)'' Of a driver, to signal an intention to turn.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[indicatory]]

+ * [[indicatable]]

+ * [[contraindicate]]

+ * [[preindicate]]

+ * [[unindicated]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[index]]

+ * [[indication]]

+ * [[indicator]]

+ * [[indicative]]

+ * [[diction]]

+ * [[dedicate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD groups indicate with argue, attest, bespeak, betoken, testify and witness, verbs for giving grounds to suppose that something exists or is present.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}