Abstract of Logic, Book 1 · Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI. Of Synonyms, Homonyms, and various Acceptations of Words: And firſt,
Ax. 1. THoſe Words are ſaid to be Synonymous which ſignifie things whoſe Ratio of Eſſence accommodated to a common Name, is the ſame.
Ax. 2. Homonymous, Diverſe.
COMMENTARY.
1. §. Synonyma's, in Latin, Univocals, are with Grammarians, Words of the ſame Signification, as Enſis, Gladius, Sword, Rapier, &c. By Logicians Synonyms are either ſtrictly taken, or largely. Synonyms ſtrictly. are ſaid to be thoſe cap. 6. of the Categories, which are, with the ſame Reaſon Eſſentially ſaid of many things; or, as to Name and Definition; as, when Animal is ſaid both of Man and Beaſt. The Larger is, when all thoſe are call'd Synonyms which are not Homonyms; which is the Acceptation of this Place.
2. §. The Name only is ſaid to be common to Homonyms, not that Accidents of Names, ſuch as Genus, Declination, Conjugation, Spirit, Quantity, Accident, &c. ſhould be excluded: For if theſe were not the ſame, neither would the Name ſo be, but that the Ratio of Eſſence only; that is, that which is explained in the Definition: Nor is it yet ſufficient in Homonyms that the Ratio of Eſſence be diverſe but alſo, it is neceſſary that they be diverſe, as to the Common Name, or as they convene in that Common Name. For Example: Animal is a Common Name to Man and Beaſt, and yet not an Homonym: For altho' one is the Definition of Man, another of Beaſt, as they differ in Names, yet convene they in one Definition, which anſwers to the Common Name of Animal, and that is enough to hinder it here from being an Homonym; But if Animal be referr'd to a living Animal and a Painted, 'tis an Homonym; becauſe no Definition is in common to a Living Animal and a Painted, that is accommodated to the common Name of Animal. And ſo we come to the third Axiom which ſhews us,
Ax. 3. Viz. That Homonymy, is either Caſual, or Deſigned.
Ax. 4. By Caſuality then it is ſaid to be when the ſame Word is impoſed upon divers things without Reaſon.
Ax. 5. Deſign when the ſame Word is uſed for certain Cauſe or Reaſon.
Ax. 8. And this reaſon is either in things, or in us.
Ax. 7. Things either Trope, or unequal Attribution; by reaſon of Trope or Figure, Words are ſaid to be Homonymous when they are deflected,
Ax. 8. As ſometimes they are from their proper Significations to ſome other; becauſe of that mutual Habitude or Relation, which things may have each to the other, whether ſimple or Analogical. And theſe are large in their Extent, as Trope.
Ax. 9. Reaſon of unequal Attribution, viz. that thoſe ſignifie that common Nature which is unequally communicated to its ſubjected Species's.
Ax. 10. By Reaſon of us, the Homonymy is when for the ſake of the Memory of any Perſon near and dear to us, or ſome Illuſtrious Perſon in Hopes of Similitude, or the like, we impoſe ſuch and ſuch Names upon our Children and Friends.
Ax. 11. Of theſe the fartheſt diſtant from Synonyms, that is, ſuch as we have in the Beginning of this Chapter defined, are Homonyms by Chance, and thoſe whoſe Reaſon or Homonymy is in us: More nearly, the Tropicks, and firſt the Analogous: Neareſt of all, thoſe that are Ambiguous by reaſon of Unequal Attribution, &c.
1. §. Now the general Cauſe of Homonymy, or Ambiguity is the Infinite Multitude of things and Paucity of Words: For by reaſon of that much greater Paucity of Words than Things, of Neceſſity one Word muſt be applied to ſignifie many things. But the Cauſe why this Word or that Word is Homonymous is either none, as in Homonymy by Chance: Or if there be any which may move a wiſe Man to make uſe of the ſame Word to ſignifie many things it is either the Change of the Word, from its proper Signification, as in the Tropicks; or unequal Attribution as in them, which convene not equally to Inferiours; or Conſervation of ſome ones Memory, or the Hope of Similitude, or Example. For Inſtance; the Word Jus in Latin ſignifies both Broth and that which is oppos'd to Injuſtice, the Homony my is by Chance: For there is no Reaſon why this Name ſhould be impos'd upon things, having no Affinity at all amongſt themſelves.
2 §. What, and how many ſold Trope is, is to be known from the Rhetoricians: But Trope cauſes Homonomy, becauſe a Sentence pronounc'd in Tropical Words, may be ambiguous and ſallacious,; as, when the Word fox is put for a Guil…ful Perſon; Paſtor, for a Miniſter of the Church; Soul for Man; Author for the Work, &c. For it's uncertain whether a Man may uſe theſe in their Proper, or their tranſlated Signification. Homonyms by unequal Attribution are, For Example; ſuch as theſe, viz. En… or Being, in Reſpect of Subfrance and Accident: Syllogiſm in reſpect of Syllogiſm ſtrictly ſo call'd, and other Syllogiſms, which … are wont to be called Syllogiſms; and ſo the Term Sanum in Latin is given to Animal, Medicine and Urine, &c.
3 §. And even all theſe have their Cauſes of Ambiguity in Things. Others alſo there are, which we have ſaid, have their Cauſes of Ambiguity in us, and our Will; as when we give the Name of the Parent to the Child, for the Conſervation of his Memory, or ſome Pious and Learned Perſon, hoping that ours may be excited by his Example to become like unto him. Theſe Ammonius in his Commentary on the Book of the Categ. calls Memoriae, and the others Spei gratia.
4. §. But that the Homonomy of Words may be ſo much the better underſtood, which is in the firſt Place to be regarded in Diſputations, we may take Notice of ſome Canons or Criterions which Ariſtotle delivers Book 1. Top. Cap. 15. Of which we ſhall here repeat the Chief. All thoſe Words in the firſt Place fall under the Title of Homonymous, to which many are Contraries; as that of the Latin Word Grave, to which Leve and Acutum. Secondly, Thoſe which have ſometimes a Contrary, ſometimes not; as the Word foreign, to love, unto which ſometimes foreign, or hate, and ſometimes nothing, as when ſignifying to wont. Thirdly, Thoſe which have ſometimes a Medium, ſometimes not: So the Words Candid and F…d, that is in Engliſh, White and dark Brown: For when Diſcourſe is of Colour, the Pale and other Middles are interjected between them: But when of Voice ſaid to be Candid or Fuſcid, that is, Clear or Hoarſe, then nothing. Fourthly, Thoſe are ſaid to be Homonymous to which ſomething is oppoſed that is Ambiguous: So Acute is an Homonym, becauſe Obtuſe: For both an Ax is ſaid to be Obtuſe, and the Voice and the Wit. So alſo the Word Flock, and therefore likewiſe Paſior. And ſo in other Genus's of Oppoſitions, excepting Diſparates. Fifthly thoſe whoſe Conjugates jugates are Homonyms; and ſo becauſe the Latin Word Sanus is an Homonym, ſo alſo muſt the Word Sanitas be. Sixthly, Thoſe which ſignifie Things of divers Kinds, and ſo Good; becauſe to be found in all Categories: So alſo, the Greek Word foreign, becauſe it ſignifies as well an Aſs as a Milſtone. Seventhly, Thoſe which are attributed to ſuch things as are not ſuch as that they may be compared, and the one be ſaid to be more ſuch, or as much ſuch as the other, and therefore Candid; becauſe attributed both to the Voice and a Garment. When a Voice can be ſaid to be neither more nor leſs ſo than a Garment. Eighthly, Thoſe Words which ſignifie the Differences of Genus's that are not Subaltern: As Acute, that is, the Difference both of Voice and Magnitude. Ninthly, Thoſe which have diverſe Differences, as the Word Jus in Latin: For others are the Differences of that from which the Lawyers are called Juriſconſulti, and Others, that which may be drank. Tenthly, and Laſtly, Thoſe which ſignifie ſometimes a Species, and ſometimes a Difference, as the Word Candor, which ſignifies a Species of Colour, and a Difference of Voice, &c.
Ax. 12. The diverſe Acceptions of Words, which the Schoolmen call Suppoſitions, Effect no Homonymy.
Ax. 13. Words are either taken Materially or Formally.
Ax. 14. They are ſaid to be taken Materially when for themſelves.
Ax. 15. Formally, when for the Things by them ſignified.
1. §. For Example: When I ſay Animal is a Word of Three Syllables of the Neuter Gender and the Third Declenſion, the Word Homo is a Word of Two Syllables of the Common Gender: The Words Homo and Animal are Materially taken, that is, by and for themſelves, not otherwiſe, than as if they ſignify'd nothing at all. But when I ſay Man is an Animal, the Words Man and Animal are formally taken, that is, for thoſe things which they ſignifie according to Inſtitution.
Ax. 16. Formal Acception, when of ſingular Words, is but of One Mode; but when of Univerſal, it is either Simple or Concrete; and
Ax. 17. Simple, then when a Univerſal is taken for the Common Nature Abſtractedly from Inferiours.
Ax. 18. Concrete, when in Inferiours.
1. §. For Example: When I ſay Animal is the Genus of Man, the Word Animal is taken ſimply for the Nature of Animal Abſtractedly conſidered, as in the Notion of the Mind or Underſtanding it is preſcinded from Inferiours. But when I ſay Man is an Animal, the Word Animal is taken in the Concrete, viz. as it exiſts in Humane Species. This Concrete Acception is, by the Schoolmen termed Perſonal, who diſpute very largely of Acceptions, or, as they ſpeak, Suppoſitions. From whence we have ſelected theſe few things; which, for the great Uſe they have in Diſputations, could not well, and without Damage, have been omitted. The reſt of them ſeem only to be calculated for Pomp and Oſtentation. And thus much may ſuffice for Theme Simple, its Categories, Affections and Interpretation.