significative etymology

Etymology

"Significant" derives from the Latin word "significare," meaning "to make known, to indicate, to signify." It traces its roots back to the Proto-Indo-European language and the root "*seng-," meaning "to mark, to cut."

Meaning

"Significant" carries several interrelated meanings:

  • Important: Something that has considerable weight, impact, or consequence.
  • Meaningful: Conveying a specific message or idea; having a clear and recognizable meaning.
  • Indicative: Providing a sign, hint, or suggestion of something hidden or unknown.
  • Noteworthy: Deserving of attention or recognition due to its importance or singularity.

Origin

The concept of "significance" has been explored by philosophers, theologians, and linguists throughout history. Here are some notable influences:

  • Aristotle: In his treatise on logic, Aristotle proposed that "significant" terms are those that refer to things that exist independently of the speaker's utterance.
  • Medieval Scholastics: Medieval theologians used "significant" to describe signs that point to a hidden reality, such as the sacraments in Christian theology.
  • Enlightenment: During the Age of Enlightenment, empiricists like John Locke emphasized the importance of sensory experience in determining the significance of terms.
  • Structuralism: In linguistics, Ferdinand de Saussure proposed that the "significant" element of a sign is its meaning, rather than its physical form.

Today, "significant" is a widely used adjective, employed in various contexts to indicate importance, meaningfulness, or indicativeness.

significative relate terms

  • signify

    Etymology Latin significare Meaning to make a sign indicate express Derived from

  • sign

    Etymology The word sign comes from the Latin word signum which means mark token o

  • significant

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words and their meanings I

  • signify

    Etymology Latin significare Meaning to make a sign indicate express Derived from

  • significative

    Etymology Significant derives from the Latin word significare meaning to make known

  • indicative

    Indicative Etymology From Latin indicativus from indicare to indicate point out

  • speak

    Etymology The word speak originates from the Old English word specan which means to

  • virtue

    Etymology Latin virtus Proto Indo European u̯ir meaning man hero Meaning

  • addiction

    Etymology The word addiction is derived from the Latin word addictio which means s

  • trespass

    Etymology of Trespass The word trespass originated from the Old French term trespas

  • court

    Etymology The word court originates from the Old French word cort which in turn deri

  • fail

    Etymology The word fail traces its origins back to the Latin verb fallere meaning

  • empathy

    Etymology Greek empatheia Latin empatia Middle French empatie English empath

  • blunt

    Etymology Middle English blont blunt Old English blund Proto Germanic blundaz Prot

  • halcyon

    Etymology Early 17th century from Late Latin halcyōn from Greek halkyōn the name o