The plural of denotation; the direct, literal meanings of words or symbols without any extra emotional associations.
From Latin denōtāre (to mark out, indicate), formed from de- (down) + notāre (to note, mark). The -ation suffix creates a noun from the verb. The meaning evolved from physical marking to indicating meaning through language.
Denotations are why dictionaries exist—they're the stable, agreed-upon meanings we can all point to. Without denotations, the word 'rose' couldn't communicate whether you mean the flower or the past tense of rise, and language would collapse into pure confusion.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.