The term “meaning” comes from the Old English word “mǣnan,” which means “to signify” or “to intend.” This word is derived from the Proto-Germanic word “*mainiz,” meaning “opinion” or “intent,” and is related to the Proto-Indo-European root “*men-,” which means “to think.” In contemporary usage, “meaning” refers to the idea or concept that something represents or conveys, encompassing the significance, purpose, or underlying message of a word, phrase, symbol, or event.