DEFINITION

, an enumeration, or specification of the chief simple ideas of which a compound idea consists, in order to ascertain or explain its nature and character.

Definitions are of two kinds; the one nominal, or of the name; the other real, or of the thing.

Nominal Definition, is an enumeration of such known characters as are sufficient for distinguishing any proposed thing from others; as is that of a square, when it is said that it is a quadrilateral, equilateral, rectangular figure.

Real Definition, a distinct notion, explaining the genesis of a thing; that is, how the thing is made or done: as is this definition of a circle, viz, that it is a figure described by the motion of a right line about a fixed point.