On Definitions. 273 



to be learned, as they were first applied and understood, either by 

 actual inspection, or by some other verbal description or indication, 

 which, in this case, is the only substitute that can be had for a defini- 

 tion. This is Montreal, that is Madrid, says custom, and these 

 names remain. It might be supposed, that, by determining the lati- 

 tude and longitude of a place, we obtain a definition of its name. 

 But it is manifest, that this is not the object of such determination, 

 for then the meaning of every name of a place, of which the latitude 

 and longitude were either unknown, or erroneously given, would be 

 ambiguous. This, we know, is not at all the case. It is the posi- 

 tion of the place, that determines the meaning of the name. The 

 names of rivers and mountains, in the same manner, are determined 

 by their course and position, and admit of no further definition. The 

 names of men and women, are of the same description. So also are 

 the names of horses, elephants, dogs, and all other animals to which 

 names are given ; so also the names of stars and books. In all these 

 cases, the individuality of the object is of itself so precise, that no 

 other definition, or rather no other explanation is necessary, than 

 simply to say, this is Charles, that is Bucephalus. 



Analogous to proper names, are the names of the parts of bodies, 

 especially in the case of animals and plants. The names of such 

 objects are determined by the place which they hold in the body to 

 which they belong, and in the relation which each holds to its own 

 body, to the body to which it belongs, they are, strictly speaking, 

 proper names. Thus, the words Head and Heart have their mean- 

 ing determined by their position or locality in the body to which 

 they belong ; and being single in each body, they are, as far as that 

 body is concerned, proper names. When considered as parts of 

 numerous bodies, they cease to be proper, and become common 

 names. But they always agree with the former in having their ap- 

 plication defined by locality. The same observations apply, in eve- 

 ry respect, to plants and trees, to all natural bodies as far as they 

 consist of distinct parts, and also to machines and other works of 

 human construction. In the latter case, indeed, it is the use of the 

 part, perhaps, to which our attention is more particularly directed. 

 Thus, the roof of a house, the stem of a plant, are defined by their 

 position ; the oars of a boat, by their position and by their use. 



Having thus gone over the names of the principal classes of visi- 

 ble objects, we shall not be long detained with the consideration of 

 those which are invisible. These objects may, in general, be com- 



VoL. XXX.— No. 2. 35 



