designate
UK: ˈdɛzɪɡneɪt | US: ˈdɛzɪɡneɪt
vt. to officially choose someone or something for a particular purpose
vt. to give a particular name or title to something
adj. appointed to a position but not yet installed (e.g., "designate heir")
The word "designate" originates from Latin designatus, the past participle of designare ("to mark out, designate"), combining de- (thoroughly) and signare ("to mark," from signum, meaning "mark" or "sign"). The morpheme sign retains its core meaning of marking or indicating, while -ate forms a verb. Over time, the term evolved to emphasize the act of officially selecting or naming, reflecting its logical progression from physical marking to abstract assignment.
The committee will designate a new leader next week.
This area is designated as a wildlife sanctuary.
She was designated the official spokesperson for the campaign.
The red line on the map designates the boundary.
He is the designate director, pending board approval.