denotatively
|de-no-ta-tive-ly|
🇺🇸
/dɪˈnoʊtətɪv/
🇬🇧
/dɪˈnəʊtətɪv/
(denotative)
indicate literal meaning
Etymology
'denotatively' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'denotare', where 'de-' meant 'completely/away' and 'notare' meant 'to mark'.
'denotatively' developed from the Latin verb 'denotare' → Old/Middle French 'denoter' → Middle English 'denoten'/'denote', which gave rise to the adjective 'denotative' and then the adverb 'denotatively'.
Initially it meant 'to mark or indicate', but over time it evolved into the modern sense of 'relating to the literal or explicit meaning (rather than connotation)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a denotative manner; with reference to denotation — i.e., the literal, direct meaning of a word or expression rather than its connotations or associated feelings.
He was speaking denotatively, focusing on the literal meaning of the term rather than its connotations.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/29 10:47