carry-load, package, baggage, heavy? what are the images that these words bring to mind? my connotation of dark is scary, mysterious, silent, sinister….My connotation of fish is plain, calm; my connotation of give is positive, sharing, kind, selfless. What are the feelings you associate with these words.?? the opposite of connotation is denotation…that is, the Dictionary meaning of a word. For example, when one hears the word vehicle, one may think Mustang, Ford, Truck, SUV, Corvette…and even color of it…Black, Pink, etc….BUT if you look up the word Vehicle in the dictionary, it will define vehicle as generally agreed upon. 🙂 Hope this helps..

carry – support, help, “to carry a burden”

dark – quiet, peace of mind, freedom

fish – being coy, something strange, “something fishy”, “fishing for complements”

give – motherly, kind, generous, push-over, “to give up”

home – family, comfort, stress, helplessness

kick – hostile, jerky

dog – pet, guardian, hostility

play – childish, imagination, elegant (Shakespeare)