connote
/k not/ • verb 1 (of a word) imply or suggest in addition to its primary or literal meaning. 2 imply as a consequence or condition. — DERIVATIVES connotative /konntaytiv/ adjective. — USAGE Connote does not mean the same as denote: whereas denote refers to the literal, primary meaning of something, connote refers to other characteristics suggested or implied by that thing. Thus, one might say that a word like mother denotes ‘a woman who is a parent’ but connotes qualities such as protection and affection. — ORIGIN Latin connotare ‘mark in addition’.
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