notional
UK[ˈnəʊʃənl]US[ˈnoʊʃənl]
adj
Existing only as an idea or concept; not existing in reality.
adj
Based on a rough estimate or used for planning, rather than being exact or real.
adj
(Linguistics) Relating to or expressing a notion or concept.
Morpheme Breakdown
notion
al
notion
al
Etymology
The word 'notional' is built upon the core noun 'notion', which traces its lineage to the Latin verb noscere, meaning 'to come to know'. This verb itself is rooted in the Proto-Indo-European gno-, a prolific source for words related to knowledge, as seen in 'know', 'note', and 'cognition'. The suffix -alis was a standard Latin adjectival ending. Therefore, the literal construction 'notion-al' means 'of or pertaining to an idea'. Over time, its meaning specialized to emphasize ideas that are conceptual, theoretical, or speculative, often in contrast to what is concrete, real, or precisely quantified, leading to its modern senses of being imaginary or based on estimates.
Analysis
Structure: notion + al
- notion: From Latin notion-, notio (a becoming acquainted, idea, concept), from noscere (to come to know).
- al: A suffix forming adjectives, from Latin -alis.
Examples
The projected costs are purely notional at this early stage.
He argued that sovereignty is a notional concept rather than a tangible reality.
In the grammar exercise, "do" is used as a notional verb in that sentence.