Editing Rigid designator (section)

==History==
The [[Scholasticism|Scholastic]] philosophers in the [[Middle Ages]] developed a theory of [[properties of terms]] in which different classifications of [[concepts]] feature prominently.

Concepts, and the terms that signify them, can be divided into '''absolute''' or '''connotative''', according to the mode in which they signify. If they signify something absolutely, that is, after the manner of substance, they are '''absolute''', for example rock, lion, man, whiteness, wisdom, tallness. If they signify something connotatively, that is, with reference to a subject of inherence, i.e., after the manner of accidents, they are '''connotative''', for example, white, wise, tall.

Both connotative and absolute concepts can be used to signify accidents, but since connotative concepts signify with a reference to a subject of inherence, they can refer to object with different definitions and properties (i.e. with different ''essences''). For example, large, as a connotative concept, can signify objects with many distinct essences: a man, a lion, a triangle can be large.

On the other hand, absolute concepts signify objects that have the same definitions and properties. For example, the concept of gold, as an absolute concept, can signify only objects with the same definitions and properties (i.e. with the same ''essence'').