§ 64. The Verb, as such, is not recognised by logic, but is resolved
into predicate and copula, that is to say, into a noun which is
affirmed or denied of another, plus the sign of that affirmation or
denial. 'The kettle boils' is logically equivalent to 'The kettle is
boiling,' though it is by no means necessary to express the
proposition in the latter shape. Here we see that 'boils' is
equivalent to the noun 'boiling' together with the copula 'is,' which
declares its agreement with the noun 'kettle.' 'Boiling' here is a
noun adjective, which we are entitled to add to 'kettle,' in virtue of
certain knowledge which we have about the latter. Being a verbal noun,
it is called in grammar a participle, rather than a mere
adjective. The word 'attributive' in logic embraces both the adjective
and participle of grammar.
§ 65. In grammar every noun is a separate word: but to logic, which is
concerned with the thought rather than with the expression, it is
indifferent whether a noun, or term, consists of one word or many. The
latter are known as 'many-worded names.' In the following passage,
taken at random from Butler's Analogy--'These several observations,
concerning the active principle of virtue and obedience to God's
commands, are applicable to passive submission or resignation to his
will'--we find the subject consisting of fourteen words, and the
predicate of nine. It is the exception rather than the rule to find a
predicate which consists of a single word. Many-worded names in
English often consist of clauses introduced by the conjunction 'that,'
as 'That letters should be written in strict conformity with nature is
true': often also of a grammatical subject with one or more dependent
clauses attached to it, as
'He who fights and runs away,
Will live to fight another day.'
§ 66. Every term then is not a word, since a term may consist of a
collection of words. Neither is every word a term. 'Over,' for
instance, and 'swiftly,' and, generally, what are called particles in
grammar, do not by themselves constitute terms, though they may be
employed along with other words to make up a term.
§ 67. The notions with which thought deals involve many subtle
relations and require many nice modifications. Language has
instruments, more or less perfect, whereby such relations and
modifications may be expressed. But these subsidiary aids to
expression do not form a notion which can either have something
asserted of it or be asserted itself of something else.
§ 68. Hence words are divided into three classes--
(1) Categorematic;
(2) Syncategorematic;
(3) Acategorematic.
§ 69. A Categorematic word is one which can be used by itself as a
term.
§ 70. A Syncategorematic word is one which can help to form a term.
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