Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Notion
No′tion
,1.
Mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception; more properly, a general or universal conception, as distinguishable or definable by marks or notae.
What hath been generally agreed on, I content myself to assume under the
notion
of principles. Sir I. Newton.
Few agree in their
notions
about these words. Cheyne.
That
notion
of hunger, cold, sound, color, thought, wish, or fear which is in the mind, is called the “idea” of hunger, cold, etc. I. Watts.
Notion
, again, signifies either the act of apprehending, signalizing, that is, the remarking or taking note of, the various notes, marks, or characters of an object which its qualities afford, or the result of that act. Sir W. Hamilton.
2.
A sentiment; an opinion.
The extravagant
notion
they entertain of themselves. Addison.
A perverse will easily collects together a system of
notions
to justify itself in its obliquity. J. H. Newman.
3.
Sense; mind.
[Obs.]
Shak.
4.
An invention; an ingenious device; a knickknack;
as, Yankee
. notions
[Colloq.]
5.
Inclination; intention; disposition;
as, I have a
. notion
to do it[Colloq.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Notion
NO'TION
,Noun.
1.
Conception; mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined. We may have a just notion of power, or false notions respecting spirit.Notion and idea are primarily different; idea being the conception of something visible, as the idea of a square or a triangle; and notion the conception of things invisible or intellectual, as the notion we have of spirits. But from negligence in the use of idea, the two words are constantly confounded.
What hath been generally agreed on, I content myself to assume under the notion of principles.
Few agree in their notions about these words.
That notion of hunger, bold, sound, color, thought, wish or fear, which is in the mind, is called the idea of hunger, cold, &c.
2.
sentiment; opinion; as the extravagant notions they entertain of themselves.3.
Sense; understanding; intellectual power. [Not used.]4.
Inclination; in vulgar use; as, I have a notion to do this or that.