notion

Overview

Meaning Now

• A concept, idea, or understanding of something.
• A belief, opinion, or vague impression.
• An impulse or desire to do something, often in the phrase “notion of”.
• A small practical article or trinket, especially in older use.

Journey

Notion entered English through learned and literary channels after the Norman period, when many abstract Latin terms arrived via French. Its history shows a common pattern: a word for ‘knowing’ in Latin becomes an abstract term for an idea or concept in English.

Evolution

1. Latin

   notiō

   “act of becoming acquainted with; conception, idea”

   Built from nōscere ‘to know’ with the -tiō noun ending.

2. Old French

   notion

   “idea, understanding”

   Borrowed from Latin with a largely intellectual sense.

3. Middle English

   notion

   “idea, opinion, whim; later also small article of trade”

   The sense ‘small practical article’ is an older English development, now archaic or dialectal.

4. Modern English

   notion

   “idea; concept; impression”

   Most common current uses are abstract.

Connections

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Related to notion

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• accept→
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