Universa Philosophia

Therefore a connotative term is: one that marks another term with which it signifies perfectly, and without which it does not signify perfectly. It is proved first: because it is not connotative in precise and objective signification, because in that respect even homo is connotative: because humanity also marks the suppositum with which it constitutes a man. Therefore it is connotative because it marks another term with which it may signify perfectly; which mode of connoting homo does not have, because although humanity connotes the suppositum, yet it does not need another term, nor does it connote it for the most perfect signification. Secondly it is proved: because here we are dealing with significant terms for composing a proposition, of which some are absolute, that is, not depending in their perfect signification on other terms, as homo. But we call things independent absolute in the respect in which they are independent; other terms, however, are dependent on others for signifying perfectly, as albus; and because without them they cannot signify perfectly nor compose a proposition, therefore they connote them for signifying. For a thing dependent on another connotes it. It is confirmed: connotative is opposed to absolute, but absolute is independent of another in its signification, therefore connotative is dependent in its signification. Which view is clearly gathered from the very etymology of names.