Ron Kulp said: Funny how, "definition" has (2) meanings. How can the exact description or meaning of something have two meanings? It is then not "exact" is it. The root definire means to set bounds to or to limit. To "define" something is to Limit it.
dmb says: This sort of reaction always baffles me. Am I wrong to believe that everyone knows that most words have more than one definition? I mean, since the word "exact" is used here as part of multiple definitions it would not make sense to take it to mean "exclusive" or "unique". The word simply refers to a certain degree of precision. As you say, definition sets limits. It draws a line, which is what we need to distinquish the figure from the ground. You know, if "X" can't be distinguished from anything else "X" has no value and does not exist. I'm guessing Ian's attack on the dictionary is a misplaced attempt at anti-essentialism. He's not really against the structure of language so much as "essential" meanings, whatever that is. This notion seems to be some kind of theological hangover from the days when people believed the word was divine and images were evil. But I've never met anybody who thinks that words have a single, exclusive meaning and so it stikes me as an assertion so weak that its not even worthy of rejection. dmb _________________________________________________________________ Mortgage rates near historic lows. Refinance $200,000 loan for as low as $771/month* https://www2.nextag.com/goto.jsp?product=100000035&url=%2fst.jsp&tm=y&search=mortgage_text_links_88_h27f8&disc=y&vers=689&s=4056&p=5117 moq_discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
