indicate

Definitions

From Latin indicāre (in- 'toward' + dicāre 'to proclaim, point out'). dicāre is an intensive cousin of dīcere — instead of plain speaking, it means 'to point out, declare.' So indicate is to point toward something: a sign indicates a direction, a symptom indicates an illness. Pointing is a kind of silent saying.

Why It Means This

indicate sits on the dicāre branch of the family, not plain dīcere. dicāre meant 'to proclaim, to point out' — think of a herald pointing as he announces. That pointing sense survives in indicate, index, and the index finger, the one we naturally point with.

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Please indicate your choice by ticking one of the boxes.

• 2.

  A high temperature usually indicates an infection.

• 3.

  The arrow indicates the way to the exit.