Meanings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To refer to the intended sense or definition of a term | to indicate something is unkind, malicious, or cruel in character or action | to represent the average value of a set mathematically
2. To express the significance or interpretation of something | to describe someone or something as being harsh or spiteful | to denote the mathematical average of values
3. To signify or make clear the explanation or purpose of an expression | to characterize someone as malevolent or unpleasant | to calculate the central mathematical value of a group

Etymology: The noun "meanings" is simply the regular plural form of "meaning," which itself has a straightforward etymological path. The root word, "meaning," derives from the verb "mean," which in Old English appeared as "mænan," meaning "to intend, to signify, to tell." This Old English form is related to "mæne," which referred to intent or purpose. The plural suffix "-s" is the standard English way of indicating more than one of something, so no surprises there. The transition from Old English to Modern English saw the sense of "mean" move from "to intend" to "to signify," giving rise to the noun form — what is signified or intended by a word, gesture, or action. By the 14th century, this noun form was well established, and from there, forming the plural was simply a matter of convention. There are no hidden stories or dramatic shifts here; it is a straightforward example of English word formation.

Synonyms: definitions, significations, interpretations, explanations, connotations

Antonyms: confusions, misunderstandings, ambiguities, obscurities, misinterpretations