No"tion (?), [L. notio, fr. noscere to
know: cf. F. notion. See Know.] 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
notæ.
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.]