notion

English Online Dictionary. What means notion‎? What does notion mean?

English

Etymology

From Latin nōtiō (“a becoming acquainted, a taking cognizance, an examination, an investigation, a conception, idea, notion”), from nōscō (“to know”). Compare French notion. See know.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈnəʊʃən/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈnoʊʃən/
• Rhymes: -əʊʃən

Noun

notion (plural notions)

1. Mental apprehension of whatever may be known, thought, or imagined; idea, concept.
   • 1705-1715, George Cheyne, The Philosophical Principles of Religion Natural and Revealed

     there are few that agree in their Notions about them:.
2. A sentiment; an opinion.
   • December 2, 1832, John Henry Newman, Wilfulness, the Sin of Saul

     A perverse will easily collects together a system of notions to justify itself in its obliquity.
3. (obsolete) Sense; mind.
4. (colloquial) An invention; an ingenious device; a knickknack.

5. Any small article used in sewing and haberdashery, either for attachment to garments or as a tool, such as a button, zipper, or thimble.
7. (colloquial) Inclination; intention; predisposition; disposition.

8. (Ireland, colloquial, in the plural) Pretentiousness or overambition.

Derived terms

Descendants

• → Irish: nóisean
• → Welsh: nosiwn

Translations

See also

• concept
• conception
• meaning

Further reading

• “notion”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “notion”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• notion on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin nōtiōnem (accusative singular nōtiōnem).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nɔ.sjɔ̃/

Noun

notion f (plural notions)

1. notion

Further reading

• “notion”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.