NAMES. 37 



the quality forms part of its signification ; but a name 

 can only be said to stand for, or to be a name of, the 

 things of which it can be predicated. We shall pre- 

 sently see that all names which can be said to have 

 any signification, all names by applying which to an 

 individual we give any information respecting that 

 individual, may be said to imply an attribute of some 

 sort ; but they are not names of the attribute ; it has 

 its own proper abstract name. 



5. This leads us to the consideration of the third 

 great division of names, into connotative and non- 

 connotative, the latter sometimes, but improperly, called 

 absolute. This is one of the most important distinctions 

 which we shall have occasion to point out, and one of 

 those which go deepest into the nature of language. 



A non-connotative term is one which signifies a 

 subject only, or an attribute only. A connotative 

 term is one which denotes a subject and implies an 

 attribute. By a subject is here meant anything 

 which possesses attributes. Thus John, or London, 

 or England, are names which signify a subject only. 

 Whiteness, length, virtue, signify an attribute only. 

 None of these names, therefore, are connotative. But 

 white, long, virtuous, are connotative. The word 

 white, denotes all white things, as snow, paper, the 

 foam of the sea, &c., and implies, or as it was termed 

 by the schoolmen, connotes*, the attribute whiteness. 

 The word white is not predicated of the attribute, but 

 of the subjects, snow, &c. ; but when we predicate it 

 of them we imply, or connote, that the attribute 

 whiteness belongs to them. The same may be said 



* Notare, to mark ; cownotare, to mark along with ; to mark 

 one thing with or in addition to another. 



