a. (sb.) [f. as prec. + -AL.]
A. adj.
1. Logic. Of a proposition: Asserting absolutely or positively; not involving a condition or hypothesis; unqualified. Categorical syllogism: one consisting of categorical propositions.
1598. Florio, Categorico, categoricall, predicable.
1616. Bullokar, Categoricall Axiome.
1638. Featly, Transub., 88. Of our simple categoricall proposition, there can bee but one true sense.
1724. Watts, Logic (1736), 301. Most [conjunctive Syllogisms] may be transformed into categorical Syllogisms.
1827. Whateley, Logic, in Encycl. Metrop. (1845), 206/1. The division of Propositions according to their substance; viz. into categorical and hypothetical.
1837–8. Sir W. Hamilton, Logic, xvi. (1866), I. 294. As used originally by Aristotle, the term categorical meant merely affirmative, and was opposed to negative. By Theophrastus it was employed in the sense of absolute,… opposed to conditional; and in this signification it has continued to be employed by all subsequent logicians.
b. gen. Of a statement (or him who makes it): Direct, explicit, express, unconditional.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., I. ix. § 1 (1622), 59. A simple and categoricall denying of it.
1657. Cromwell, Sp., 3 April. You do necessitate my answer to be categorical.
1696. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), IV. 83. On condition he give his categorical answer by the 18th instant.
1778. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, etc. (1842), I. 116. I could never persuade her to be categorical.
1866. Motley, Dutch Rep., V. i. 668. The ratification of the Ghent treaty … was in no wise distinct and categorical, but was made dependent on a crowd of deceitful subterfuges.
c. Categorical imperative: in the ethics of Kant, the absolute unconditional command of the moral law, a law given by the pure reason, and binding universally on every rational will.
1827. Hare, Guesses, Ser. II. (1873), 337. [Kant] spun a new [system of ethics] … out of his categorical imperative.
1856. Dove, Logic Chr. Faith, II. § 2. 117. The categorical imperative of conscience.
1871. Farrar, Witn. Hist., iv. 161, note. ‘The categorical imperative’ (Duty, Conscience, Thou must).
2. Logic. Of or belonging to the categories.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., 66. [It] will apply … to all the other eleven categorical forms.
B. sb. A categorical proposition or syllogism.
1619. W. Sclater, Expos. 1 Thess. (1630), 439. Reduce thy Hypothesis to a Categoricall; thus lies thy Proposition.
1826. Whateley, Logic, II. iv. § 2. 107 (L.). A hypothetical Proposition is defined to be, two or more categoricals united by a Copula.
1837–8. Sir W. Hamilton, Logic, xvi. (1866), I. 303. The proximate canons by which Deductive Categoricals are regulated.
Hence Categoricalness.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 58. To find out the reason of his own Categoricalness. Ibid., I. 192. The word of Mr. Bayes’s that he has made notorious is categoricalness.
