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de-sign
(di zin’) vt. [ME designen < L
designare, to mark out, define < de, out, from +
signare, to make < signum, a mark, SIGN] 1 to
make preliminary sketches of; sketch a pattern or
outline for; plan 2 to plan and carry out, esp.
by artistic arrangement or in a skillful way 3 to
form (plans, etc.) in the mind; contrive 4 to
plan to do; purpose, intend 5 to intend or set
apart for some purpose –vi. 1 to make designs 2 to make
original plans, sketches, patterns, etc; work as a
designer –n. [Fr dessein < It disegno < disignare < L
designare ]
designate
(dez’ig nat; for adj, -nit,
-nat) adj. [ME < L designatus, pp of designare see prec.]
named for an office, etc. but not yet in it [ambassador
designate] – vt, nat’edm –nat’ing 1 to point out,
mark out; indicate; specify 2 to refer to by a
distinguished name, title, etc; name 3 to name
for an office or duty; appoint
–des’ig-na-tive adj. – des’ig-nator n.
The
Latin root of the word design pronunciation emphasizes the "z"
as in the word designation.
As the word passed
through the French language, the "z"
pronunciation becomes an "s", as in the word desire. |
