8. CONNOTATIVE AND NON-CONNOTATIVE TERMS.
A connotative term is one which denotes a subject and at the same time implies an attribute. (A subject is anything which possesses attributes.)
All concrete general terms are connotative because they denote subjects and at the same time stand for certain attributes; e. g., “man” denotes many subjects; in fact, it stands for all the men in the world; it also implies rationality, the power of speech, power of locomotion, etc. “Triangle” stands for all plane figures of three sides; it likewise stands for the qualities, three-sided, three-cornered, etc. Both “man” and “triangle” are connotative.
A non-connotative term is one which denotes a subject only, or implies an attribute only. Such words as Boston, Columbus, The Elizabeth White, denote a subject only. “Blueness,” “justice,” “width,” imply an attribute only. All these terms are non-connotative. The words blue, just, wide, are connotative. “Blue,” for example, denotes all blue things, as the blue sky, the blue sea; at the same time “blue” implies that something possesses the quality, blueness.
Generally speaking, proper and abstract nouns are non-connotative; though such proper nouns as Mount Washington, Mississippi River, are, no doubt, connotative, as they denote an object and imply at least one attribute. In the case of Mount Washington an objectis surely denoted, and the attribute mountainous is implied. Any proper noun which conveys definite information is connotative. It may be claimed that all proper nouns give information. For example, to many Boston indicates not only an object, but the qualities common to a city. In reply it may be said that “Boston” might indicate a boat, or a dog, or almost any individual object.