The following exercises involve constructing definitions:

1. Construct a partial enumerative definition for the following terms by naming three members of the class the term denotes. Then find a nonsynonymous term that these members serve equally well to define. Example: “Poet” means a person such as Wordsworth, Coleridge, or Shelley. A nonsynonymous term is “Englishman.”

★a. skyscraper

b. corporation

c. island

d. composer

e. novel 2. Construct a complete enumerative definition for the following terms:

a. ocean

b. continent 3. Construct a definition by subclass for the following terms by naming three subclasses of the class the term denotes. Then find a nonsynonymous term that these subclasses serve equally well to define.

★a. animal

b. fish

c. vehicle

d. gemstone

e. polygon 4. Construct a complete definition by subclass for the following terms:

a. quadrilateral

b. circulating American coin 5. Construct synonymous definitions for the following terms:
★a. intersection

b. fabric

c. nucleus

d. abode

e. wedlock

f. cellar g. summit h. apparel 6. Construct operational definitions for the following words:
★a. genius

b. ferromagnetic

c. fluorescent

d. alkaline

e. polarized (light)
7. Construct definitions by genus and difference for the following terms. In each definition identify the genus term.
★a. drake

b. biologist

c. felony

d. widow

e. library 8. Consult a dictionary to find the etymological roots of the following words, and then explain how they relate to the conventional meaning of these words.
★a. morphology

b. isomorphic

c. isotropic

d. phototropic

e. photography

f. lithography g. lithology h. psychology