notion

English

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
(See the entry for notion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.)

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

Noun

notion (plural notions)

  1. Mental apprehension of whatever may be known, thought, or imagined; idea, concept.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Isaac Newton
      What hath been generally agreed on, I content myself to assume under the notion of principles.
    • (Can we date this quote?) George Cheyne
      Few agree in their notions about these words.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Isaac Watts
      That notion of hunger, cold, sound, color, thought, wish, or fear which is in the mind, is called the "idea" of hunger, cold, etc.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Alexander Hamilton
      Notion, again, signifies either the act of apprehending, signalizing, that is, the remarking or taking note of, the various notes, marks, or characters of an object which its qualities afford, or the result of that act.
  2. A sentiment; an opinion.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Joseph Addison
      The extravagant notion they entertain of themselves.
    • (Can we date this quote?) John Henry Newman
      A perverse will easily collects together a system of notions to justify itself in its obliquity.
    • 1935, George Goodchild, chapter 1, in Death on the Centre Court:
      “Anthea hasn't a notion in her head but to vamp a lot of silly mugwumps. She's set her heart on that tennis bloke […] whom the papers are making such a fuss about.”
  3. (obsolete) Sense; mind.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
  4. (colloquial) An invention; an ingenious device; a knickknack.
    Yankee notions
  5. Any small article used in sewing and haberdashery, such as a button or zipper.
  6. (colloquial) Inclination; intention; disposition.
    I have a notion to do it.

Translations

See also

Further reading
  • notion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
  • notion in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin nōtiō, nōtiōnem.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /nɔ.sjɔ̃/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

notion f (plural notions)

  1. notion

Further reading
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