[Publib] "what is the word for..?" stumper

[Rachel Davis]

"Tom Cipullo" <cipullot at pbclibrary.org> writes:
>so "what do you call it when a term for a state of being is used to
>describe a thing?" 

Could it be an "abstract noun?":

An abstract noun refers to states, events, concepts, feelings, qualities,
etc., that have no physical existence. 

eg: Freedom; happiness; idea; music are all abstract nouns that have no
physical existence.

An abstract noun can be either a [
javascript:OpenGlossary('countable-noun.html'); ]countable noun or [
javascript:OpenGlossary('uncountable-noun.html'); ]uncountable noun.
Abstract nouns that refer to events are almost usually countable: a noise;
a meeting.

Rachel

Rachel Q. Davis
Children's Librarian
Thomas Memorial Library
6 Scott Dyer Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
207-799-1720


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