A possible misplacement in dictionary

Question

HI,in dictionary the definition of the entry of [quality] : {something typical of a person or thing}; characteristic[characteristic] is okay.[something typical of a person or thing] is  wrong to definine [quality] but right to definine [a judgment about one's behavior] . I provide a remedy for it and rephrased : {a person or thing for making a judgment about one's behavior} ----specifically:{a person or thing is for / in favor of  [sympathy is typical]}; In the way its all original example can be accord with my definition.Its original examples in the following sentences:1. Sympathy is his best quality. 2. She shows qualities of leadership.3. This music has a rather sinister quality.repharsed: Sympathy is attributed / attributable to his best quality.to attribut sympathy to his best qualityHis best quality is attributive to sympathy.   To the definition of my version----quality: a person or thing for making a judgment about one's behavior,  can be rephrased.1. His best quality is for making a judgment about one's behavior: [sympathy is typical].2. Sympathy is typical (example) of his best quality. = Sympathy is his best quality. (so, [is] = [has]---Sympathy has his best quality) This music has a quality of rather sinister. This music is rather sinister. Rather sinister is typical example of this music's quality.This music's quality is for making a judgment : [rather sinister is typical]additional example:The shoe-shine boy who becomes a millionaire typifies the American Dream.To the difinition of my version---quality: a person or thing for making a judgment about one's behavior, the original can be rephrased:The shoe-shine boy who becomes a millionaire has  a quality of the American Dream / or is the American Dream.  That is my naive saying and could any one tell me please it is correct or not?Thank you for your assistance.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Hello;

It is very challenging to make accurate and good dictionary definitions. Making a dictionary is a profession which requires a lot of education and training. The name of this profession is lexicography and a person who has such a job is a lexicographer. You can trust the definitions in a reputable dictionary.

The word "quality" has many different meanings. Here is a short list:

1. an essential or distinctive characteristic, property, or attribute: the chemical qualities of alcohol.

2. character or nature, as belonging to or distinguishing a thing: the quality of a sound.

3. character with respect to fineness, or grade of excellence: food of poor quality; silks of fine quality.

4. a personality or character trait: kindness is one of her many good qualities.

5. a person of high social position

Quality is not a person; it can refer to an upper-class person.

Normally it means an internal or natural characteristic of the person or thing.

For example:

The quality of this radio's sound is excellent. (The sound is clear; it has no static or noise.)

bepleasedSympathy is his best quality. (so, [is] = [has]---Sympathy has his best quality)

The two verbs have and be are not the same. The meaning is different.

I am a woman. (Does not mean "I have a woman.")

I have a dollar bill. (Does not mean "I am a dollar bill.")

bepleasedThe shoe-shine boy who becomes a millionaire has a quality of the American Dream / or is the American Dream.

No, that is not a good example of the word quality.

The shoe-shine boy who becomes a millionaire is an example of someone who has achieved the American Dream.

The shoe-shine boy who wants to become a millionaire must have these qualities: persistence, dedication to hard work, and optimism.

Bepleased · Answer

Hi,

Thank you for your so much elaboration AlpheccaStars.

Yes, lexicographer they absoluately deserve to be hammered out and I've indulged and belived in their works.

Let me righted to keep up with your teaching one by one.

bepleased

“Sympathy is his best quality. (so, [is] = [has]---Sympathy has his best quality) ”

Your teaching:

The two verbs have and be are not the same. The meaning is different.

I am a woman. (Does not mean "I have a woman.")

I have a dollar bill. (Does not mean "I am a dollar bill.")

===

In [I am a woman.], the [am] may mean "to belong to".

In [I have a dollar bill.], the [have] may mean "to obtain / to be given".

Your teaching:

For example:

The quality of this radio's sound is excellent. (The sound is clear; it has no static or noise.)

=

We know differect patters give different meanings.

In [The quality of this radio's sound is excellent.], according to the definition of "quality": the degree to (according to) which something is excellent.

So, your line can be rephrased: The degree to (accordint to) which this radio's sound is excellent.

And the "of" in [the quality of this radio's sound] may mean "belonging to".

In [She shows quality of leadership.], the "of" may mean "containing".

And "shows" is anti-causalty verb may mean:to appear or be able to be seen.

Your teaching:

bepleased

“The shoe-shine boy who becomes a millionaire has a quality of the American Dream / or is the American Dream. ”

No, that is not a good example of the word quality.

The shoe-shine boy who becomes a millionaire is an example of someone who has achieved the American Dream.

The shoe-shine boy who wants to become a millionaire must have these qualities: persistence, dedication to hard work, and optimism.

=

In [The shoe-shine boy who becomes a millionaire is an example of someone who has achieved the American Dream.],

the "is" may mean "belong to".

In [The shoe-shine boy who wants to become a millionaire must have these qualities: persistence, dedication to hard work, and optimism.], the punctuation ":" may mean "of" : "containing".

the order of "quality" : a person or thing, quality, contains

Wish your teacing again.

Bepleased · Answer

Hi AlpheccaStars,

To my original 2. Sympathy is typical (example) of his best quality. = Sympathy is his best quality.

(so, [is] = [has]---Sympathy has his best quality) , I must change to the following.

Sympathy is typical (example) of his best quality. = Sympathy is typically his best quality.

(so, [is] = [belongs to]---Sympathy typically belongs to his best quality)

Bepleased · Answer

Hi Alpheccastars:

We know different patterns give different meanings.

From the derivation of quality---- the quality of him---"he" is the maker of quality. The pattern is "the quality of him"

Form the act : appear / become to be seen / come into sight / become noticeable,

Quality causes “he” to become to be seen / to come into sight / to become noticeable.

So, “he” becomes an accepter of quality. The pattern is: "He has a quality of what."

AlpheccaStars · Answer

lpheccaStars.I am a woman. (Does not mean "I have a woman.")
I have a dollar bill. (Does not mean "I am a dollar bill.")
==
In , the [am] may mean "to belong to".
In , the [have] may mean "to obtain / to be given".

[am / is/ are] does not mean "belong to."

For example, I am a woman.

"woman" does not belong to me. I did not buy it. I cannot give it. I cannot sell it. It is not separable from me.

Bepleased · Answer

Hi ApheccaStars,

"woman" does not belong to me, okay.

But I belong a woman, in "I am a woman."

AlpheccaStars · Answer

bepleasedBut I belong a woman, in "I am a woman."

I belong a woman is not correct English.

If you are a pet dog, then you can say:

My name is Spots. I am a Dalmation puppy. I belong to a woman named Mary.
I have an owner who is a woman named Mary.

I am a Dalmation puppy.

Bepleased · Answer

Hi ApheccaStars,

Yes, you are right.

But to say which belongs to which is to say the way in which the meaning of [I am Chinese. / one of the family.] is formed.

The daily language is a miraculoue gift given by *** with so much intrinsic logic meanings disguised off the mouth but hidden in mind.

In this way we can use it as so much simple a tool that serves so much uses----showing intrinsic logic meanings that are hard to come out of the mouth, isn't it?

*** gives us the clothing of daily language that acts as the clothing causes our so different, deep, and changeable mentalities hidden to be clear, clean and easy to talk to each other, and the other side the clothing can be a sign of mentalities thereof.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

All I know is that every human tribe, nationality, and race ever discovered has developed some sort of language. There are about 3000 different living languages, and probably thousands more of dead languages.

Many animals have developed "languages", so they can interact with each other. This is especially true for animals that live in communal societies. Bees, for example, can communicate where they have found flowers to the other bees in the hive.

Each human language is different on the surface, but inwardly, there are some fundamental ideas (and grammars) that are common to all of them. Things like:

- Identity (being)

- Possession (having)

- Feeling (hunger, pain, anger, grief, love)

- Classifying and naming objects

Language is produced in many parts of the brain. The ability to speak is located in a specific area. This area is different from the parts of the brain associated with listening, thinking, and word formation. If the "speaking center" is damaged, then using the "singing" part of the brain can help a person to recover speech. This is a wonderful story about such a recovery.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/12/26/144152193/singing-therapy-helps-stroke-patients-speak-again

A possible misplacement in dictionary

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