I.

NATURE OF DEFINITION

A definition is a statement which explains what a thing is. It is a statement that answers the question WHAT IS THIS THING ! In natural language" a definition is intended to gi#e sense of meaning and context to words. This is generall$ done %$ pro#iding s$non$ms and examples of usage. The term &'(INITI)N! came from the *atin word+ &'(INI,'! meaning to la$ down.! Thus" et$mologicall$" to define means+ T) *A- &)WN TH' .A,/',S ), *I.ITS!

II. KINDS OF DEFINITION

A. Nominal Definition 0 a definition which spea1s a%out a term %ut do not declare an$thing a%out it. This is done %$ considering the origin of the term" %$ descri%ing the term" %$ gi#ing the s$non$m of the term or %$ citing an example that will represent the term.

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a) %$ 't$molog$ 0 attained %$ tracing the origin of the term. e.g. (raternit$ came from frater!" which means %rother!.

b) %$ &escription 0 attained %$ descri%ing the term. e.g. A rose is a flower c) %$ S$non$m 0 it is done %$ gi#ing a word equi#alent to term. e.g. 3o$ means happiness. d) %$ 'xample 0 it is done %$ citing an$thing that will represent the term. e.g. )ur 2hief 'xecuti#e is 4enigno Simeon Aquino III

B. Real Definition 0 a definition which declares something a%out the term. This 1ind of definition ser#es to explain a%out the nature and to distinguish it from other terms.

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a) %$ Genus and Specific &ifference 0 a definition that explains the essence of a term %$ considering the intelligi%le elements that ma1e up e.g. A triangle is a figure with three sides. figure! 0 genus three sides! 0 specific difference the term.

b) %$ &escription 0 it is done %$ stating the genus of the term %ut altering the specific difference %$ gi#ing the logical propert$" which %elongs to the term to %e defined. e.g. A 5olice )fficer is a man %estowed with authorit$ to enforce a law. man! 0 genus %estowed with authorit$ to enforce a law! 0 logical propert$

c) %$ 2ause 0 it is attained %$ stating the genus of the term %ut altering the specific difference %$ tracing its cause. A cause could %e its purpose" function" reason for existence" ma1e6up or origin. e.g. A %oo1 is a written material made6up of se#eral pages and is a source of information. written material! 0 genus

a source of information! 0 cause or reason for existence III. LAWS OF DEFINITION

1) The definition should explain the term clearl$. The purpose of the definition is to explain and must" therefore %e eas$ to understand. It must not contain terms which will onl$ ma1e it less intelligi%le.

2) The definition must not contain the term %eing defined. The definition must use other words in defining. It is suppose to explain a particular term and is not supposed to use the same term in the explanation.

3) The definition must %e coextensi#e with the term defined. The purpose of this rule is to ma1e sure that the definition is equal in extension with the term %eing defined. The definition must not %e too narrow nor too %road.

4) The definition should %e formulated positi#el$. The definition is supposed to explain what a term or o%7ect is" and not" what it is not. )nl$ when the term is negati#e should the definition %e negati#e.