notational
UK[nəʊˈteɪʃənəl]US[noʊˈteɪʃənəl]
adj
relating to or expressed in a system of symbols or signs used to represent information, especially in a specialized field.
Morpheme Breakdown
notation
al
notation
system of symbols
al
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'notational' is a modern english formation built upon the noun 'notation'. 'notation' itself entered english in the late 16th century from latin 'notatio', which derives from the verb 'notare', meaning 'to mark' or 'to note'. this verb is rooted in 'nota', meaning 'a mark, sign, or note'. the suffix '-al' is a prolific adjective-forming suffix of latin origin, appended to nouns to create adjectives that describe a relationship or pertinence. therefore, 'notational' literally means 'pertaining to a system of marks or symbols', a meaning that has remained closely aligned with its etymological components, now specifically applied to symbolic systems in mathematics, logic, music, and computing.
Analysis
Structure: notation (system of symbols) + al (adjective suffix)
- notation: from latin 'notatio' (a marking, notation), from 'notare' (to mark). functions as the core noun base.
- al: from latin '-alis' (adjective-forming suffix). functions as a suffix forming adjectives meaning 'of, relating to, or characterized by'.
Examples
the notational complexity of the musical score made it challenging for the young pianist.
different programming languages have distinct notational conventions for writing comments.
the paper introduced a new notational system to simplify the representation of chemical bonds.