Words, Thoughts and Things
Points beyond itself to some other fact
What is a sign?
The members of a class signified by a word
What is the denotative meaning of a word?
The susceptibility of a word to be understood in more than one way
What is ambiguity?
The word to be defined
What is the definiendum?
Trying to dispose someone for or against the denotata.
What is to bias?
An intentional sign
What is a word?
The set of characteristics common to all members of the class signified by the word.
What is the connotative meaning of a word?
This signifies only some members of a class, by either pointing to those members or by naming those members.
What is a denotative definition?
A negative evaluative term
What is a term of disapprobation?
Non-essential characteristics
What is accidential?
Tools for communicating the thoughts about things
What are words?
What is said rather than How it is said
What is propositional meaning?
A word-type with only one meaning
What is univocal?
All and only members of the denoted class
What are the denotata?
The set of words used to define a definiendum
What is the definiens?
The dictionary usage of a word
What is lexical meaning?
If a definition defines things to be what they actually are
What is a true definition?
Something that sets limits to how a word is to be understood.
What is a definition?
An equals sign
What indicates equivalence?
A thing’s most important defining characteristic(s).
What is its essence?
Whatever an individual uses a word to mean.
What is its nominal meaning?
Blik
What is a word with no meaning?
This is used to describe an entire class, by specifying the attributes shared by all the members of a class.
What is a connotative definition?
When a definiens restates explicitly or implicitly the definiendum.
What is a circular definition?
When a definition is neither too broad nor too narrow.
What is convertible?