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Prescriptive Authority
Prescriptive terms have common meaning and, consequently, commonly agreed definitions while others bear various interpretations. They result from longstanding custom, usage, or authorization, and apply only to specific circumstances. For example, the terms “iron” and “silver” now have universal meaning unlike the terms “just” and “good” that constantly fluctuate. Socrates probably used them as examples for good reason. [21]
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Definition by Prescriptive Authority
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Division
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Generally, any deviation from prescriptive meaning must result from either division into its species (wrought, cast, steel), or alternatively, by semantic combination (ironmonger) or attribution (grappling-iron).
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Evolution
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The term "iron" can only mean one thing as to genus and has evolved through many word forms (iren, yren, irnne) in many languages over many centuries.
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Reality
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Three points of note exist about these prescriptive terms: their reality, their definition, and their name.
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Man has known about elemental iron, a silvery white solid metal, since prehistoric times and it ranks fourth in abundance among elements. Consequently, the term "iron" can only mean one thing as to genus and has evolved through many word forms (iren, yren, irnne) in many languages over many centuries. Similarly, the word silver has evolved from many other word forms (siolfor, selfer, selver).
These words have remained generally prescriptive in all their forms because the elements that they define possess unique qualities. Generally, any deviation from prescriptive meaning must result from either division into its species (wrought, cast, steel), or alternatively, by semantic combination (ironmonger) or attribution (grappling-iron).
Three points of note exist about these prescriptive terms: their reality, their definition, and their name. Discriminatingly, one may propound a name and demand a definition. Alternatively, one may propound a definition and demand a name. [22] This occurs because, unlike other types of definition, linguistic practice has determined rules of usage for them that do not change.
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