The denotation of the word commemorate is "to make memories together." This is the literal meaning of the word. Connotation refers to the emotions or feelings that a word can evoke. In the context of Veterans Day, that emotion or feeling is solemness.
Explanation:
Denotation is the very literal meaning of the word in frank terms. To commemorate means in a literal sense to make memories together. It is the process of celebrating or recognizing a person or thing in terms of the contributions they made. Etymology is the study of the origins of words and commemorate originates from Latin in the sixteenth century and means "brought to remembrance."
Connotation has a different meaning than denotation. Connotation refers to the emotions or feelings that a word can evoke. In this sense, the word commemorate evokes solemness for many people and that to commemorate something is to recognize the contributions it or they made. It is the idea that we owe gratitude and respect to the soldiers who make a sacrifice in the battles and other events of WWI on Veterans Day.
