designate
Meaning: To officially appoint someone to a particular role or assign a specific status to something; (as adjective, after a noun) appointed but not yet officially installed.
Designate functions as both a verb and a postpositive adjective. As a verb, it means to officially assign or appoint — 'the area was designated a conservation zone.' As an adjective placed after a title, it indicates someone who has been appointed but has not yet taken up the role — 'the chairman designate' or 'the president-elect designate.' This postpositive use is distinctive and formal, commonly seen in governance and organisational contexts.
Examples
- The government designated the building as a Grade II listed structure. 政府将该建筑指定为二级保护建筑。El gobierno declaró el edificio monumento protegido de grado II.政府はその建物をグレードII指定建造物に指定した。정부는 그 건물을 그레이드 II 지정 건축물로 지정했다.
- The director designate will officially take up her post on the first of April. 候任董事将于四月一日正式就任。La directora designada asumirá oficialmente su cargo el uno de abril.次期取締役は4月1日に正式に就任する予定だ。차기 이사는 4월 1일에 공식적으로 취임할 예정이다.
- Several streets in the city centre have been designated as pedestrian-only zones. 市中心的几条街道已被指定为步行专用区。Varias calles del centro de la ciudad han sido declaradas zonas exclusivamente peatonales.市街中心部のいくつかの通りが歩行者専用区域に指定された。도심의 여러 거리가 보행자 전용 구역으로 지정되었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: professional, legal, media
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin designatus, past participle of designare (to mark out, point out), from de- (out) + signare (to mark), from signum (mark, sign). The postpositive adjective use mirrors Latin participial constructions.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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