syncategorematic
[email protected] 28 Sep 2007 09:56:03 -0000
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The Word of the Day for September 28 is:=20
syncategorematic \sin-kat-uh-gor-uh-MAT-ik\ adjective
: forming a meaningful expression only in conjunction with a d=
enotative expression (as a content word)
Example sentence:
=E2=80=9CIn any language, there will be what are called syncateg=
orematic words, such as prepositions and articles,=E2=80=9D explained Dr=
. Lewis.
Did you know?
In ancient Greek logic, =E2=80=9Ckat=C4=93gor=C4=93ma=E2=80=9D=
referred to something that was affirmed or denied about the subject in =
a proposition. For instance, in =E2=80=9Cthe paper is white,=E2=80=9D =E2=
=80=9Cwhiteness=E2=80=9D would be the =E2=80=9Ckat=C4=93gor=C4=93ma.=E2=80=
=9D Seventeenth-century logicians extended this concept, which they call=
ed =E2=80=9Ccategorem,=E2=80=9D to cover the subject of the proposition =
as well. So, in the proposition =E2=80=9CAll men are mortal,=E2=80=9D =E2=
=80=9Cmortality=E2=80=9D is a categorem and so is =E2=80=9Cman.=E2=80=9D=
But what about =E2=80=9Call=E2=80=9D? Words like =E2=80=9Call=E2=80=9D =
that signify quantity (as well as words that function as adverbs, prepos=
itions, or conjunctions) are syncategoremata -- that is, they are words =
that have meaning in propositions only when used in conjunction =E2=80=9C=
with=E2=80=9D other words. (=E2=80=9CSyn-=E2=80=9D means =E2=80=9Cwith.=E2=
=80=9D)
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