I. ˈnämənə̇t, -məˌnāt, usu -d.+V adjective
Etymology: Latin nominatus (past participle)
1. Roman & civil law : having a special or certain name : being a contract involving the delivery of a property for which the actual property or similar property was to be returned (as in the case of a loan, deposit, or pledge — distinguished from innominate
2. : appointed to an office — chiefly used in Scots law of a tutor appointed by a father or since 1886 by a mother in a will or some other sufficient writing
3. : being the first named and by rule a tautonymic subdivision of a species
Icterus cucullatus cucullatus is a nominate race
the nominate race of this oriole — Condor
II. ˈnäməˌnāt, usu -ād.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin nominatus, past participle of nominare, from nomin-, nomen name — more at name
1.
a. : to call by some name or title : designate , name , denominate
the first of the commonly so nominated explorers of the American Arctic — Vilhajalmur Stefansson
b. : to mention by name : give the name of : call or name off
nominate … all the islets of the sound would entail a couple of hours' work — A.A.MacGregor
becomes more and more difficult to nominate the real criminals — R.H.S.Crossman
2.
a.
(1) : to appoint to an office or place
the person nominated by the deceased's will as his executor — Edward Jenks
(2) : to propose by name for office as a preliminary to appointment upon approval or confirmation by some person or body
the President … shall nominate , and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors — U.S. Constitution
b.
(1) : to propose, select, or formally enter by any of various methods (as the caucus, the convention, the primary, or petition) as a candidate for public office
(2) : to propose or enter as a candidate for a nonpublic office
nominated for club chairman but lost by a few votes
3. obsolete : fix , specify
let the forfeit be nominated — Shakespeare
4. : to put forward or propose formally or informally for some honor, eminence, or status
do not share the taste that nominates these poems for greatness — A.S.Stein
nominate him as the best model football player of 1952 — Eddie Beachler
5.
a.
(1) : to select (as a bull) for the serving of a particular female
(2) : to request service for (as a mare) from a particular male : offer to book service for — used with to
the mare should be nominated to a stallion whose qualities complement her own
6. : to enter (a horse) in a race
Synonyms: see designate