Question

which phrase best defines the denotative meaning of a word?
○ the feelings and associations the word evokes
○ the literal meaning of the word
○ the author’s attitude toward the word
○ the way a word contributes to a text’s tone

Explanation:

To determine the best definition of denotative meaning, we analyze each option:

• "The feelings and associations the word evokes" refers to connotative meaning, not denotative.
• "The literal meaning of the word" matches the definition of denotative meaning, which is the dictionary - defined, literal sense of a word.
• "The author’s attitude toward the word" describes the author's perspective, not denotative meaning.
• "The way a word contributes to a text’s tone" relates to the word's role in tone, not its denotative meaning.

Answer:

the literal meaning of the word