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# Title: An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (shelfmarks Leibn. Marg. 38; ZEN Leibn. Marg. 38)
# Folio 240, page id 778263916:0256
# Original at the GWLB: https://digitale-sammlungen.gwlb.de/resolve?id=778263916&page=256
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# Model: FoNDUE-GD_v2_ft_Leibniz, run 74, 2026-09-06T16:05:13Z — 48 lines, status machine
# Lines: 48 recognised, mean confidence 0.89
# Machine transcription. Not an edition. Errors are expected: about 8% character error rate on Latin and French lines, higher on German.
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# After the first blank line: the recognised lines in reading order, one per line.

Impersmin  Nor
dilisent in oblerrus cu terter, aiset sels Masieriat, volutire, and impe
rous, in impolis ou on leule ala llesprctations o the LatTOT.
C tt1LL. 2
Of che Abuse of Words.
G. F. DD Fsides the impertection chat is naturally in Language, and chie
obscurits and contusion that is so hard to be aroided in che
Ose OFWords, there are several wilful saults and Neclects, Whieh Men
are suiler ot, in the war ot Communication, Wrhereby cher render these
signs less clear and distinet in cheir signification, chan naturally they necd
10b0.
5. 2. First, In Ehis Kinc, che Arst and most palpable abuse is, tlie v.
Sins OF Words, Without clear and distinet Ideas; or, Whuich is worle, (ions
richour any thing signified. OF Fhele FHErC ATO LWO TONES:
P. One maz obserre, in all Languages, certain Words, that if ther DC
exammined, will be found, in cheir trst Original, and their appropriated
DsC, noc to sand for any clear and distinet Pdeas. Thele, for the most
part, the several Sects oE Philosophy and Religion have introduced. FOr
their Authors, or Promoters, cither attectins lomethins lnsular, and oue
Ot the nar ot commmon apprehentions, or to suppore lone ltranse Oxi-
nions, or cover lome Wealnels of cheir Hypothelis, seldom fail to coin
nem Words, and such as, when ther come to be examined, may
justiy be called insienisicant Terms. For havine cither had no determi-
table Collection of Ideas annexed eo them, hen they vere trst invented;
Or at least luch a5, is ell examined, rill be found inconlictent, tis no von-
der is alterards, in the vulsar ule ofthe lame party, ther remain empey
Sounds, with litele or no lignitication, amongst thole irho think it e-
nough to have them osten in their mouths, as the distinguistino Chara-
eters oF their Church, or School, ithout much croublins their headsto
examine, Wrhat arc the precile Ideas ther Hand For. Imall not necd here
Foncap up instances, everr ones readins and conversation will sufficient-
Iy Furni him: Or iF he anes tobe better Aored, FHC SreaF MInE-MaIterS
ot these kind ot Terms, I mean the Schoolmen andMteraphy licians, (under
Wtrich, I chint, ehe disputins natural and moral Philosophers ot thele lat-
FeF AgeS, may De comprehended,) hare whercrichal abundanty t0 con-
tent him.
6. 3. II. Othersthere Be, irho extend this abuse yet Farther, Wrho tate
fo litele care to lar br Words, Which in their primarr notation have
scarce any clear and distinet ideas they are annexed to, that by an un-
Pardonable negligence, they tamiliariy use Words, Which the Proprietr ot
Lanouase has affixed to vers important Ideas, they ule chem, IlaY,
without any distinct meanine at aII. WVisdom, Glory, Grace, ecc. are Words
Freguent enouxh in every Mtans mouth; but il a oreat mans ol those
vlio use them, Mould be asticd, What ches mean by them: thes wouldbe
aE a Rtand, and not bnor irtat to ansiver: A plain proot, thac though chiey
hare learned those Sounds, and have them ready at their Pongues ends,
yet there are no clear and distinct Ideas laid ux in their Minds, wrhick
are 0 bC expressed r0 ochers by rhicm: