Universa Philosophia

A copulative term is: A simple term signifying one thing composed of several things accidentally copulated among themselves without true union, as multitudo, acervus, Respublica, civitas, exercitus, etc. I said to be a simple term to exclude complex terms, which can be called copulated terms and composed of two, as homo, et equus currunt: where the subject signifies several things, and Respublica is a copulative term and complex, therefore I do not exclude all complex terms. Likewise I said one thing composed of several copulated things, to exclude common terms signifying several individuals, as they are one in a common respect: for in reality neither are all men, on their own part, one man, nor is homo ut sic one account simply, because all its unity is not in the object but in the intellect; but a copulative term signifies unity on the part of the thing holding itself together, and several things which are understood to compose one thing of themselves, as Respublica is composed of different states of persons; but homo in common does not have on its own part composition from Peter and Paul.