This Week’s Fun & Fancy Word: Haecceity!
This Week’s Fun & Fancy Word Is:
We’ve all heard about Plato, his perfect forms and idea of “dogness.” Which is the representation of essential characteristics that make a dog a dog. But haecciety is more specific than that. It’s the particular “thisness” that makes your dog not just any dog, but the one that can only be your beloved Fido. Haecceity is the essence of a particular thing, the qualities that make that specific thing (in this case Fido) unique.
Etymology:
Origin of Haecceity.
The term haecceity is built from the Latin haec meaning “this,” plus itas. Which translates to -ity in English, and is used to form nouns describing a state, quality, or condition – as in humanity, equality, or masculinity. Haecceity first appears in late 13th – early 14th century philosophy, especially in the work of John Duns Scotus.
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Endnotes:
Montgomery, Henry. “The Idea of Form in Animal Classification and Idea.” November 10, 2025. Planksip.org https://www.planksip.org/the-idea-of-form-in-animal-classification-and-idea-1762786177564/
“haecceitas” – Philopedia https://philopedia.org/terms/haecceitas/
“-itas meaning.” Goong.com-New Generation Dictionary. https://goong.com/latin/itas_meaning/
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