\No*ta"tion\, n. [L. notatio a marking, observing,
etymology, fr. notare to mark, nota a mark: cf. F. notation.
See 5th {Note}.]
1. The act or practice of recording anything by marks,
   figures, or characters.
2. Any particular system of characters, symbols, or
   abbreviated expressions used in art or science, to express
   briefly technical facts, quantities, etc. Esp., the system
   of figures, letters, and signs used in arithmetic and
   algebra to express number, quantity, or operations.
3. Literal or etymological signification. [Obs.]
         ``Conscience'' is a Latin word, and, according to
         the very notation of it, imports a double or joint
         knowledge.                            --South.