of individual things by reference to their directions.

For example, when it is said, “The boundary of the land on the side facing the qiblah is such-and-such, and on the eastern side such-and-such,” the land is distinguished by its name and its boundaries. The boundaries of the land are needed when there is a risk of including more or less than the name denotes. They serve to include everything within those boundaries and exclude whatever does not belong, just as the name does. The same applies to the definition of a species. This is achieved sometimes through verbal definitions and sometimes through definitions established by designation. In both cases, a definition merely explains what the name denotes and distinguishes what is defined from other things; it does not produce a conception of what is defined.

Since the purpose of a definition is to explain what a name denotes, and naming is a matter of linguistic convention, reference must be made to the intention and language of the person assigning the name. Hence the jurists say that some names have their limits determined by revealed law, while others have their limits determined by customary usage.

“Interpreting and explaining speech” also belongs here. If this means clarifying the speaker’s intention, it rests on knowing the limits of meaning in his words. If it means demonstrating and establishing the correctness of his words, it requires knowledge of evidence for their correctness.

The former involves clarifying the conception conveyed by his words, or conveying a conception of his words so as to convey, through translation, a conception of what the names denote. Sometimes this is for someone who has already conceived what is named but does not know that this is its name; at other times, it is for someone who has not yet conceived what is named. In that case, what is named is indicated as far as possible, either by pointing to the thing itself or to something analogous to it.

Hence it is said that a definition is sometimes of the name and sometimes of what is named. The leading authors who write on the art of definition according to the method of the logicians acknowledge, upon