indication

Etymology

From Old French indication, from Latin indicātiō (“a showing, indicating the value of something; valuation”), from indicō (“point out, indicate, show; value”); see indicate; compare French indication, Spanish indicación, Italian indicazione. Morphologically indicate + -ion

noun

1. Act of pointing out or indicating.
2. A fact that shows that something exists or may happen.
   There's no indication that the fire was caused by criminals.
   All the indications point to drink-driving as the cause of the accident.
   The frequent stops they make in the most convenient places are plain indications of their weariness.
3. (rare) A mark or another symbol used to represent something.
4. Discovery made; information.
5. (obsolete) Explanation; display.
   For the indication either proceeds from one experiment to another; or else from experiments to axioms; which axioms themselves suggest new experiments. 1627, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: Or a Natural History, in Ten Centuries
   The committee, unknown to the workmen, also followed the next or succeeding mash, which was better made, and obtained the following results: First indication of the saccharometer .. 7⅘ degrees. Last indication of the saccharometer ... 1 1870, USA House of Representatives, House Documents - Volume 12; Volume 265, page 124
   In an electrical anunciator the combination with a plurality of indicators all operative conjointly and simultaneously by any one of several circuit closers and adapted to give a combined indication, of the automatic means for holding the circuit closed until all of the indicators in the circuit have made their indications, and then resetting the operated circuit closer ready for another operation. 1895-11-05, “549,241. Electrical annunciator. Robert L. Hunter, Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Feb. 3, 1894. Serial No. 499,035. (No model.)”, in The Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, volume 73, number 6, Washington: Government Publishing Office, page 874
6. (medicine) Any symptom or occurrence in a disease, which serves to direct to suitable remedies.
   The first indication he meets by a dose of calomel, 1o to .30 gm., followed, if necessary, by magnesium sulphate in boiled water. 1900, Massachusetts Medical Journal, page 460
7. (finance) An declared approximation of the price at which a traded security is likely to commence trading.