Definition?

Question

Is there a word out there where the actual word is the word's definition? I hope that makes sense...

Thanks!

Answer 1

None if I understand your question properly.

Probably you mean performative utterances!

- These Utterances can be defined as follows:

1.They do not ‘describe’ or ‘report’ or con-state anything at all, are not ‘true or false,’ and
2.The uttering of the sentence is, or is a part of, the doing of an action, which again would not normally be described as, or as ‘just,’ saying something.

Examples:

i) ‘I do take this woman to be my lawful wedded wife’ – as uttered in the course of the marriage ceremony.

ii) ‘I give and bequeath my watch to my brother’ – as occurring in a will.

Answer 2

Where the word itself is the word's definition AND THERE IS NO OTHER DEFINITION? The answer is no because every word can be described or defined by either (1) another word (i.e. a synonym), or (2) a phrase that explains the meaning of the word without using the word itself.

Basically, you are asking if there is a word out there that has NO DEFINITION (i.e. no way to describe it). No such word exists.

Answer 3

I think level is both a word and a definition

Answer 4

well, all words are like that, kind of.
love is one of those words, though, that are really difficult to define without using the word love. love is love.
laughter is another one.
*shrugs*

Answer 5

http://www.wikipedia.org