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Websters ONLINE dictionary
TOKEN
Main Entry: 1to·ken
Pronunciation: 'tO-k&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tAcen, tAcn sign, token; akin to Old High German zeihhan sign, Greek deiknynai to show --
more at DICTION
Date: before 12th century
1 : an outward sign or expression <his tears were tokens of his grief>
2 a : SYMBOL, EMBLEM <a white flag is a token of surrender> b : an instance of a linguistic expression
3 : a distinguishing feature : CHARACTERISTIC
4 a : SOUVENIR, KEEPSAKE b : a small part representing the whole : INDICATION <this is only a token of what we hope to accomplish> c :something given or shown as a guarantee (as of authority, right, or identity)
5 a : a piece resembling a coin issued as money by some person or body other than a de jure government b : a piece resembling a coin issued
for use (as for fare on a bus) by a particular group on specified terms
6 : a member of a group (as a minority) that is included within a larger group through tokenism; especially : a token employee
synonym see SIGN
- by the same token : for the same reason
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