denouns

Denouns is a term encountered in some linguistic and constructed language discussions to describe a proposed subclass of nouns whose primary function is to encode denotation about relations, properties, or contextual aspects rather than the referent's primary identity. The term is not part of standard typology and is best understood as a neologism formed from denote and noun to signal its focus on denotation rather than strict categorization.

Some theoretical proposals divide denouns into semantic denouns, which package relational or contextual information (such as density, frequency, or role) into nominal form, and derivational or syntactic denouns, which are created by affixation or conversion and behave like nouns while carrying extra denotational meaning. This framing allows denouns to function as carriers of information that supplements or alters the referent's interpretation in discourse.

Morphology and syntax for denouns are typically described in speculative or experimental frameworks. Proposed formation methods include prefixes or suffixes that mark degree or relation; compounding with other nouns or adjectives; and conversion where a verb or adjective is used as a denoun with added denotation. In practice, such processes are more common in constructed languages or theoretical models than in widely adopted grammars.

Examples are largely illustrative since denouns are not widely used in mainstream linguistics. A hypothetical denoun like density-denoun could nominalize a measure related to the referent's contextual density, while a relational denoun could indicate a role or function rather than the object itself.

Status: The concept remains speculative or experimental and has limited acceptance outside certain theoretical or conlang contexts. See also predicative noun, nominalization, relational noun, conlang.