— connotative /kon"euh tay'tiv, keuh noh"teuh-/ , connotive , adj. — connotatively, connotively , adv.
/kon'euh tay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. an act or instance of connoting.
2. the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning: A possible connotation of "home" is "a place of warmth, comfort, and affection." Cf. denotation (def. 1).
3. Logic. the set of attributes constituting the meaning of a term and thus determining the range of objects to which that term may be applied; comprehension; intension.
[ 1375-1425 for earlier sense; 1525-35 for current senses; late ME connotacion connotation- (s. of connotatio ), equiv. to connotat ( us ) (ptp. of connotare to CONNOTE; see -ATE 1 ) + -ion- -ION ]
Syn. 2. undertone, implication, import.