[des.ig.nate] adj [L designatus, pp. of designare] (1646): chosen but not yet installed "ambassador ~"
[2]des.ig.nate vt -nat.ed ; -nat.ing (1791) 1: to indicate and set apart for a specific purpose, office, or duty "~ a group to prepare a plan"
2. a: to point out the location of "a marker designating the battle" b: to distinguish as to class "the area we ~ as that of spiritual values --J. B. Conant" c: specify, stipulate "to be sent by a designated shipper"
3: denote "associate names with the people they ~"
4: to call by a distinctive title, term, or expression "a particle designated the neutron" -- des.ig.na.tive adj -- des.ig.na.tor n -- des.ig.na.to.ry adj