VB

Definition and stakes

Portrait of William Stanley Jevons William Stanley Jevons,  The principles of science

“ Thus, taking the special symbol V = Some, the general form of a partial identity would be A = VB, and in Boole’s Logic expressions of the kind were much used. But I believe that indeterminate symbols only introduce complexity, and destroy the beauty and simple universality of the system which may be created without their use. A vague word like some is only used in ordinary language by ellipsis, and to avoid the trouble of attaining accuracy. We can always employ more definite expressions if we like ”
Source: Gutenberg

Various,  The Nursery, November 1873, Vol…

“ Come is a verb. By the word here, I tell Walter where he must come; and so here is a different sort of word from both Walter and come. Here is an adverb."
"But, if I say 'Come,' do I not name something?" asked Walter.
"You certainly do not. What thing do you name? Come is not an object or thing; come is not a person. You cannot say, 'Give me a come,' or 'Let me see a come.'"
"But dog is a name-word, and tree is a name-word," cried Walter. "I can say, 'Give me a dog,' 'Let me see a tree;' can I not?"
”
Source: Gutenberg

Portrait of Noah Webster Noah Webster,  Dissertations on the English Language…

“ If the practice of a few men in the capital is to be the standard, a knowlege of this must be communicated to the whole nation. Who shall [Pg 26] do this? An able compiler perhaps attempts to give this practice in a dictionary; but it is probable that the pronunciation, even at court, or on the stage, is not uniform. The compiler therefore must follow his particular friends and patrons; in which case he is sure to be opposed and the authority of his standard called in question; or he must give two pronunciations as the standard, which leaves the student in the same uncertainty as it found him. ”
Source: Gutenberg

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