Denotatum

Denotatum is a term used in the field of semantics, which is the study of meaning in language. It refers to the actual object, concept, or entity that a word, phrase, or symbol represents. For example, in the sentence "The cat is sleeping," the denotatum of the word "cat" is the actual feline animal, not the word itself or any other concept associated with cats. The denotatum is distinct from the connotatum, which refers to the subjective associations, emotions, or ideas that a word evokes in the mind of the speaker or listener. Denotatum is a crucial concept in semantics, as it helps to distinguish between the literal meaning of a word and its broader implications. It is also an important tool for analyzing the structure and function of language, as well as for understanding how meaning is constructed and communicated.