Answer: C) Cause.
Explanation: the denotation of a word is its literal meaning, the definition that we can find in a dictionary, a word can have several denotations (or definitions). It is the antonym of connotation, which is the meaning given by the context or even by the readers (or listeners) based on their emotions or personal experiences. The given definition or denotation corresponds to the word "cause," so the correct answer is option C.
