signification, significance; sense, expression; import, purport; force;
drift, tenor, spirit, bearing, coloring; scope.
[important part of the meaning] substance; gist, essence, marrow,
spirit &c 5.
matter; subject, subject matter; argument, text, sum and
substance.
general meaning, broad meaning, substantial meaning, colloquial
meaning, literal meaning, plain meaning, simple meaning, natural
meaning, unstrained meaning, true meaning, &c (exact) 494 honest
meaning, &c 543 prima facie meaning [Lat.]; &c (manifest) 525.
letter of the law.
literally; after acceptation.
synonym; implication, allusion &c (latency) 526; suggestion &c
(information) 527; figure of speech &c 521; acceptation &c
(interpretation) 522.
V. mean, signify, express; import, purport; convey, imply, breathe,
indicate, bespeak, bear a sense; tell of, speak of; touch on; point to,
allude to; drive at; involve &c (latency) 526; declare &c (affirm) 535.
understand by &c (interpret) 522.
Adj. meaning &c v.; expressive, suggestive, allusive; significant,
significative†, significatory†; pithy; full of meaning, pregnant with
meaning.
declaratory &c 535; intelligible &c 518; literal; synonymous;
tantamount &c (equivalent) 27; implied &c (latent) 526; explicit &c
525.
Adv. to that effect; that is to say &c (being interpreted) 522.