indicator
UK[ˈɪndɪkeɪtə(r)]US[ˈɪndɪkeɪtər]
n
a sign that shows you what something is like or how a situation is changing
n
a device on a machine that shows a measurement, for example of speed or temperature
n
a light on a vehicle that flashes to show that the vehicle is going to turn left or right
Morpheme Breakdown
in
dicat
or
in
in, into, toward
dicat
to proclaim, to declare, to dedicate
or
a person or thing that does something
Etymology
The word 'indicator' has a clear lineage from Latin. It is built upon the verb 'indicāre', which itself is a compound of the intensive prefix 'in-' and the verb 'dicāre' (to proclaim). The literal sense was 'to point out, to declare publicly'. The agent noun suffix '-or' was then added to form 'indicator', meaning 'that which points out'. Over time, the meaning evolved from a person who declares or shows something to an abstract sign or a physical device that serves the same function of pointing to or signaling a specific state, fact, or direction.
Analysis
Structure: in + dicat + or
- in: Latin origin, meaning 'in, into, toward'. It functions as an intensive prefix here, adding force to the root meaning.
- dicat: A substring of the Latin root 'dicāre', meaning 'to proclaim, to declare, to dedicate'. It functions as the core root conveying the sense of 'pointing out' or 'making known'.
- or: Latin agent noun suffix, meaning 'a person or thing that does something'. It functions to form a noun indicating an agent or instrument.
Examples
The test results are a reliable indicator of overall health.
The car's fuel indicator was showing that the tank was nearly empty.
He forgot to use his indicator before changing lanes.