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We can define only by contrast and discrimination. Light defines itself by contrast to darkness. All definition is therefore relative and forms a duality. Meaning arises only by separation of one thing from another. Hence the meaning of one word is entirely relative to that of another. We can think of what the word "hot" means, for instance, only by thinking of its opposite "cold"--similarly for "tall' and "short."

-- Notebooks Category 7: The Intellect > Chapter 5 : Semantics > # 15