designation
(dɛs-, dɛzɪgˈneɪʃən)
[ad. L. dēsignātiōn-em, n. of action from dēsignāre (see designate). Cf. F. désignation (14th c. in Hatzf., and in mod.F.; not in Cotgr. 1611).]
1. The action of marking or pointing out; indication of a particular person, place, or thing by gesture, words, or recognizable signs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xix. cxxvi. (1495) 926 Alpha is wryte for desygnacion of letters, for amonge Grekys this letter tokenyth one. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxix. (1611) 374 Wherefore was it said vnto Moyses by particular designation, This very place..is holy ground. 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. iv. vii. 357 The designation of an end in working is the great perfection of an intelligent Agent. 1731 Bailey vol. II, Designation..also the marking the abutments and boundings of an estate. 1784 Cowper Tiroc. 640 With designation of the finger's end. 1794 Paley Evid. (1825) II. 224 The designation of the time would have been more determinate. 1860 Trench Serm. Westm. Abb. xv. 164 The intention with which he thus designated Jesus unto them: they understand it..not at the first designation. |
b. concr. A distinctive mark or indication.
| 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iv. xiii. 224 Those stars..were indeed but designations of such quarters and portions of the yeare, wherein the same were observed. 1831 J. Davies Manual Mat. Med. 26 The word ana..is placed before the designation of the quantity. |
2. The action of appointing or nominating a person for a particular office or duty; the fact of being thus nominated; appointment, nomination.
| 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. Ded. §14 There hath not been..any public designation of writers or inquirers. 1640 Bp. Hall Episc. ii. xvi. 176 It was in the Bishops power to raise the Clergie from one degree to another, neither might they refuse his designations. 1674 Owen Holy Spirit (1693) 83 His Designation of God unto his Kingdom. c 1689 in Somers Tracts I. 315 Till the King in Designation be actually invested with the Regal Office. 1791 Cowper Iliad iv. 458 By designation of the Greeks was sent Ambassador. 1868 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) II. ix. 378 This quasi designation of Eadward to the crown. |
† b. The appointment of a thing; the summoning of an assembly. Obs.
| a 1638 Mede Disc. Ezek. xx. 20 Wks. (1672) i. 56 The designation or pitching that Seventh upon the day we call Saturday. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. ii. §9 By designation of Conventions for prayer. 1697 Bp. Patrick Comm. Ex. xvi. 5 The Designation of this seventh Day was..from their wonderful Deliverance. 1777 Burke Let. Sheriffs Bristol Wks. 1842 I. 218 At the first designation of these assemblies. |
† c. The qualification of being marked out or fitted for an employment; vocation, bent (of mind), ‘call’. Obs.
| 1657 Burton's Diary (1828) II. 14 That man that has a designation to that work [preaching]. 1736 Bolingbroke Patriot. (1749) 12 These are the men to whom the part I mentioned is assigned. Their talents denote their general designation. 1779–81 Johnson L.P., Cowley Wks. II. 6 That particular designation of mind, and propensity for some certain science or employment, which is commonly called Genius. |
3. The action of devoting by appointment to a particular purpose or use; an act of this nature. arch.
| 1637 Gillespie Eng. Pop. Cerem. iii. i. 6 Designation or deputation is when a man appoints a thing for such an use. 1767 Blackstone Comm. II. 329 To make various designations of their profits. 1796 C. Marshall Garden. xii. (1813) 136 The designation of trees to a wall necessarily occasions cutting. |
b. Sc. Law. The setting apart of manses and glebes for the clergy from the church lands by the presbytery of the bounds.
| 1572 Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1597) §48 Vpon the said marking and designation, the Arch-bishop..sal giue his testimoniall, bearing how he [etc.]. 1861 in W. Bell Dict. Law Scotl. s.v., After a designation by the presbytery. 1864 [see design v. 5]. |
c. U.S. The authoritative allotment of ground for oyster-culture; concr. the ground thus allotted.
† 4. Purpose, intention, design. Obs.
| 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr., The end of his life in Hannahs designation. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. iii. i. §7 So far is there a constant Connection between the Sound and the Idea and a Designation that the one stand for the other. 1737 Whiston Josephus' Antiq. xviii. vi. §9 God proved opposite to his designation. 1763 F. Brooke Lady J. Mandeville (1782) II. 2 This mutual passion is the designation of heaven to restore him. |
† 5. Sketching, delineation. Obs. rare.
| 1796 Jane West Gossip's Story I. 4 A mere novice in landscape designation, I confine myself to the delineation of..human character. |
6. A descriptive name, an appellation; spec. in Law, the statement of profession, trade, residence, etc., added for purposes of identification to a person's name.
| 1824 Landor Imag. Conv. (1846) 8 A designation which I have no right to. 1868 Gladstone Juv. Mundi ii. (1870) 43 The name Argeioi..as a designation of the army before Troy. 1876 E. Mellor Priesth. i. 15 The name ‘priesthood’..became a designation of the whole Church of God. |