An Essay on the Signs of Ideas. 255 
to themselves exactly the same image or idea 
ofa triangle, because, if the proposition be true, 
it must be equally true of all possible tri- 
angles. The same remarks are applicable to 
every instance in which general terms are 
used, and the probabilities against uniformity 
are much increased in cases where the terms 
are not only general, but exceedingly com- 
plex; as in the words ship, army, city, &c. 
There is a great number of words in com- 
mon use, which are to be considered as 
merely abbreviated expressions for various 
trains of ideas, although they are generally 
considered as standing, each for a specific 
and appropriate idea. Let us examine a few 
of them in order. : 
Take for instances, the words power, time, 
gratitude, which may serve as examples of a 
great many others of the samenature. When 
we hear the word power mentioned, what 
are the ideas excited? Every different hearer 
will probably have a different set passing 
through his mind, when he thinks upon this 
word, with a view to determine for what it 
stands. Each will endeavour to recollect in- 
stances which he has observed of. the exertion 
of power. One willthink of asteam-engine, 
and will say that the working of that ma- 
chine is power; another will perhaps tell us 
