different between denote vs betoken

English

Etymology

From Middle French denoter, from Latin denotare, from de- (“complete”) and notare (“to mark out”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /d??n??t/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /d??no?t/
• Rhymes: -??t

Verb

denote (third-person singular simple present denotes, present participle denoting, simple past and past participle denoted)

1. (transitive) To indicate; to mark.

2. (transitive) To make overt. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
3. (transitive) To refer to literally; to convey as meaning.

Derived terms

• denotation
• denotative

Translations

Portuguese

Verb

denote

1. first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of denotar
2. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of denotar
3. third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of denotar
4. third-person singular (você) negative imperative of denotar

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /de?note/, [d?e?no.t?e]

Verb

denote

1. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of denotar.
2. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of denotar.
3. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of denotar.
4. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of denotar.

English

Etymology

From Middle English bitoknen, bitacnen, from Old English bet?cnian (“to betoken, signify, designate”). Equivalent to be- +? token. Cognate with Dutch betekenen (“to mean, signify”), German bezeichnen (“to call, designate”), Swedish beteckna (“to represent, designate, indicate”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /b??to?.k?n/
• Rhymes: -??k?n

Verb

betoken (third-person singular simple present betokens, present participle betokening, simple past and past participle betokened)

1. (transitive) To signify by some visible object; show by signs or tokens.
   • 1557: Robert Recorde, The whetstone of witte, whiche is the seconde parte of Arithmetike?:?containyng the xtraction of Rootes?:?The Cossike practise, with the rule of Equation?:?and the workes of Surde Nombers.^?, page unknown (Ihon Kyngstone)

     There be other 2 signes in often use of which the first is made thus?+?and betokeneth more?:?the other is thus made?–?and betokeneth lesse.
2. (transitive) To foreshow by present signs; indicate something future by that which is seen or known.
   • 1853: Virgil, Charles Anthon, LL.D. [tr.], Æneïd of Virgil: With English Notes, Critical and Explanatory, a Metrical Clavis: And an Historical, Geographical, and Mythological Index, page 474 (Harper & Brothers, 329 & 331 Pearl Street, Franklin Square, New York)

     “?Ah?!?hospitable land, thou (nevertheless) betokenest war,” i.?e., although hospitable, thou nevertheless betokenest war.?—?Bello.

Synonyms

• (signify): indicate, mark, note
• (foreshow): portend, presage, forebode

Translations

References

• betoken in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.