32 THE PRINCIPLES OF SCIENCE. 



crystal is but part of opaque crystal. We increase the 

 intent of meaning of a term by joining adjectives, or 

 phrases equivalent to adjectives, to it, and the removal 

 of such adjectives of course decreases the intensive 

 meaning. Now concerning such changes of meaning 

 the following all-important law holds universally true. 

 When the intent of meaning of a term is increased the 

 extent is decreased; and vice versa, ivhen the extent is 

 increased the intent is decreased. In short, as one is 

 increased the other is decreased. 



This law refers only to logical changes. The number 

 of steam engines in the world may be undergoing a 

 rapid increase without the intensive meaning of the 

 name being altered. The law will only be verified again 

 when there is a real change in the intensive meaning, 

 and an adjective may often be joined to a noun without 

 making a change. Elementary metal is identical with 

 metal ; mortal man with man ; it being a property of all 

 metals to be elements, and all men to be mortals. 



There is no limit to the amount of meaning which 

 a term may have. A term may denote one object, or 

 many, or an infinite number; it may imply a single 

 quality, if such there be, or a group of any number of 

 qualities, and yet the law connecting the extension and 

 intension will infallibly apply. Taking the general 

 name planet, we increase its intension and decrease its 

 extension by prefixing the adjective exterior ; and if we 

 further add nearest to the earth, there remains but one 

 planet Mars, to which the name can then be applied. 

 Singular terms, which denote a single individual only, 

 come under the same law of meaning as general names. 

 They may be regarded as general names of which the 

 meaning in extension is reduced to a minimum. Logi 

 cians have erroneously asserted, as it seems to me, that 

 singular terms are devoid of meaning in intension, the 



