I. ˈtōkən sometimes -k ə ŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English taken, token, from Old English tācen, tācn; akin to Old Saxon tēkan sign, Old High German zeihhan, Old Norse teikn, Gothic taikn sign, Greek deiknynai to show — more at diction
1. : an outward indication or expression (as a visible sign) : sensible evidence : proof
tokens of his profound grief
saw the rainbow as … the token of a covenant between God and man — James Jeans
from time to time said something … as a token of friendship — Douglas Stewart
2. : a divine or miraculous sign : omen , portent
the most mighty gods by tokens send such dreadful heralds — Shakespeare
the floor to the house where they stood up fell in and … folks said it was a bad token — Elizabeth M. Roberts
3.
a. : something (as an act, gesture, or object) that serves as a sign or signification : mark , emblem
a white flag is a token of surrender
waved her handkerchief as a token of recognition
gripped the clergyman's hand in token of his gratitude — Robert Grant †1940
b.
(1) : a particular instance of an expression symbol, or sentence
if the word man is written twice and spoken once, there have arisen three tokens of the word man
— contrasted with type
(2) : the action of uttering, writing, or otherwise producing a token
4. : a distinguishing mark : feature , characteristic
a boy of good make and mind, with the tokens on him of a refined nature — J.H.Newman
5. archaic : a usually prearranged sign : signal
he that betrayed him had given them a token — Mk 14:44 (Authorized Version)
gave token that the host was closing for the night — E.A.Poe
6.
a. : something given as a memento of regard or affection : souvenir , keepsake
an antique token my father gave my mother — Shakespeare
give it to me as a going-away token — Lillian Hellman
b. : a vestige or reminder of something
muse … over this token of bygone fashion — Virginia Woolf
c. : a small part or bit representing the whole : indication
only a token of what he hopes to accomplish
this is the merest token of the subject — W.W.Howells
d. : something given or shown as a symbol of guarantee (as of authority, right, or identity) : password
say, by this token , I desire his company — Shakespeare
the book … was accompanied by no sign or token from him — William Black
any member who reveals any token … is expelled — C.W.Ferguson
as
(1) : a small metal disk formerly given in the Church of Scotland as a warrant or voucher to members qualified to receive communion — called also communion token
(2) Britain : a disk or strip of metal or leather having a peculiar mark designating a particular miner that is sent with each filled corf hewed or conveyed in a coal mine
7. : a piece or disk (as of metal) certified as having a definite value for payment or exchange: as
a. : a piece (as of metal, cardboard, or hard rubber) fashioned in resemblance of a coin but not in imitation of any particular coin and issued for use as money by or on the authority of some person or body (as a bank or a business or commercial firm) other than a de jure government
b. : a piece resembling a coin issued on private or public authority for use by a particular group of people (as employees of a plantation or inmates of a prison) on specified terms
c. : a piece resembling a coin for use as a ticket on a public conveyance
bus token
transportation token
a seven-and-a-half-cent token
d. : token coin
e. : a piece (as a coupon, certificate, label, or box top) redeemable for merchandise
premium tokens
a book token
8. : a piece resembling a medal issued as a souvenir or for advertising or political propaganda purposes
9. : a game counter
10. archaic
a. : a quantity of paper sufficient for printing 250 impressions or for one hour's work for two men on a handpress
b. : a unit of presswork from one form varying from 250 to 500 impressions
Synonyms: see pledge , sign
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- by the same token
- more by token
II. verb
( tokened ; tokened ; tokening -k(ə)niŋ ; tokens )
Etymology: Middle English toknen, tokenen, from Old English tācnian, from tācen, tācn, n.
transitive verb
: to serve as a sign of : betoken , signify , symbolize
feeling remorse … tokens possible future pangs — F.B.Ebersole
intransitive verb
: to occur as or provide with a token : instance
III. adjective
Etymology: token (I)
: done or given as a token especially in partial fulfillment of an obligation or engagement : having semblance or serving as a sign or sample of the real thing : simulated , minimal , perfunctory
sent a token force to join in the unpopular war
token damages of six cents
a token bequest
IV. noun
: a member of a group (as a minority) that is included within a larger group through tokenism ; especially : a token employee
V. adjective
: serving or intended to show by one's position an absence of discriminatory policies
a token female employee