indication
Meaning
a sign or piece of information that shows or suggests something
a reading or measurement shown by a piece of equipment
the action of indicating something
Structure
Usage
The dark clouds were an indication of the approaching storm.
There is every indication that the economy is beginning to recover.
The gauge provides a clear visual indication of the pressure level.
Etymology
The word 'indication' traces its lineage to the Latin verb indicare, meaning "to point out, to show, to declare". This verb itself is a compound of the preposition in- ("in, into, towards") and the verb dicare ("to proclaim, to dedicate"), which is related to dicere ("to say"). The core semantic thread from the ancient root deik- (Proto-Indo-European for "to show, to point out") is preserved throughout. Thus, the literal action of "pointing into" or "declaring towards" something evolved into the modern abstract concept of a sign, symptom, or piece of information that points to or suggests a fact or condition.
Analysis
- in: Latin prefix meaning "in, into, towards, on". - dic: Latin root from dicere, meaning "to say, to declare, to point out". - ation: Latin-derived noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process, or its result.