amˈbɪʃ(ə)n/
noun
noun: ambition;
plural noun: ambitions
1. a strong desire to do or achieve
something.
"her
ambition was to become a pilot"
|
synonyms:
|
aspiration, intention, goal, aim, objective, object, purpose, intent, plan, scheme, mission, calling, vocation, desire, wish, design, target, end, dream, hope
"her ambition was to become a model"
|
o
desire and determination to achieve success.
"young men
and women with ambition"
|
synonyms:
|
drive, determination, desire, enterprise, initiative, eagerness, motivation, enthusiasm, zeal, commitment, a sense of purpose, longing, yearning, hankering;
informalget-up-and-go
"young people with ambition"
|
Origin
If one
were to decipher the definition of ambition and summarise it in a sentence or
less, Google or the dictionary would probably present the above. However, if
one were to decipher it in close association with real-time events and earthly
emotions, one summarised sentence would never do, not only the word ambition,
but any word justice in what they can connote. Denotation are the literal
meaning of things, while connotations are associated closely with sides and
personal objectives. To further this argument, one should look into the
definitions of these words and test the effects of the definitions in real
life.
To begin, we
should look at the words denotation and connotation as separate entities with
their own set of meanings.
denotation
diːnəʊˈteɪʃn/
noun
noun: denotation;
plural noun: denotations
1. the literal or primary meaning of a
word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.
o
the action of indicating or referring to something by
means of a word, symbol, etc.
o
PHILOSOPHY
the object or
concept to which a term refers, or the set of objects of which a predicate is
true.
2. connotation
3. kɒnəˈteɪʃ(ə)n/
4. noun
1.
an idea or feeling which a word invokes for a person in
addition to its literal or primary meaning.
"the word
‘discipline’ has unhappy connotations of punishment and repression"
|
synonyms:
|
overtone, undertone, undercurrent, implication, hidden
meaning, secondary meaning, nuance, flavour, feeling, aura, atmosphere, colouring, smack, hint, vein, echo, vibrations, association, intimation, suggestion, suspicion, insinuation; More
|
·
PHILOSOPHY
the abstract
meaning or intension of a term, which forms a principle determining which
objects or concepts it applies to.
While denotation
is the literal meaning, connotation identifies itself with an idea or feelings
in addition to its literal meanings. Idea and meanings are fluid and molded by
earth life, therefore connotation can be safely described as the second layer
to the meaning – the relation of the word in connotation to human life where
humans are in control of this secondary layer.
How assuring it
is to have a second layer to words that waivers our understanding of the
universe? Should words not have a solid ground that is not fluid and ever
changing, but that words should sought to have elements of proof in its meaning
and the stability it can contribute in our world? Are humans inheritably
powerful enough to command the world as it is, or is the world is truly the
most powerful ruler where humans should succumb to its genius?
And who is to
say words..are words? Whilst pondering the magnificent magnitude of our very
existence, I have already managed to stray off from the original topic of
ambition. At its finest, words carry the melody to our story, but at its worst,
words silence.
But of course,
this is just me, using connotation in all my words to get my ideas and feelings
across. With every word I am manipulating a thought, and with every sentence I
am seeking to establish manipulation as facts for others to understand. Evil,
but detrimental. If it were not for the freedom of communication and thought,
our world will have no leeway, but would operate under calculations and
explanations of absolute stability without change. While that sounds like the
ideal situation to surround yourself in, where everything can be proven or
eliminated, the grey area where we all find comfort in disappears and we are
left to be but of dust.
So let the dust
settle, and let your ambitions bring you to where you need to be, whatever the
word ambition can mean to you. Remember to use literal meaning and your own
thoughts to paint the universe you want to live in. And finally, never let
anyone else have the luxury of dictating your meaning.
