A document is a human-made artifact that encodes information in a durable, readable form — text, image, or structured data — for storage, communication, or legal effect across time and distance. Parameters: it carries semantic content, persists in a material or digital medium, and is designed for human interpretation. Persistence mechanism: encoded symbols stored in physical (paper, stone, clay) or digital (file, database, blockchain) media, maintained by preservation practices and reading technologies. [formal: documentum | substrate: matter | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
document
A document is a human-made artifact that encodes information in a durable, readable form — text, image, or structured data — for storage, communication, or legal effect across time and distance. Parameters: it carries semantic content, per…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made artifact that encodes information in durable, readable form — text, image, or data — for storage, communication, or legal effect across time and distance.
Names and aliases
- documenten · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Relations to this entry
- cmrpisuoc07agd1nl19tke1is← DEPENDS_ON
An addendum is a supplementary section attached to a document. Removal test: remove document and an addendum ceases to operate — it has no function without the document it supplements. This is object-level dependency: the addendum's purpose is to augment a specific document.
- cmrpisuoc07agd1nl19tke1is← DERIVED_FROM
Document existed first as the primary information-bearing artifact; addendum is a later practice of attaching supplementary text to it. Which-came-first test: document predates addendum.
- cmrpjevqx07brd1nlg1kamph2← DEPENDS_ON
Peritext (prefaces, titles, footnotes, marginalia) operates by annotating or framing a document. Remove the document and peritext has nothing to attach to — it ceases to function. Object-level dependency.
- cmrqihlml09h8d1nliu6k354h← INSTANCE_OF
An errata-slip is a specific kind of document: a printed sheet listing corrections to a published work. A competent speaker would call it 'a document.' Document is the nearest kind.
- cms3mcd55002ql3bmdtwa5ti4← INSTANCE_OF
A cargo-manifest IS a specific kind of document — a shipping document that lists and describes goods being transported. A competent speaker would call a cargo-manifest 'a document.' Direction: specific→general.
- cms4reshq00y1156a2r5ls0bc← INSTANCE_OF
A receipt IS a specific kind of document — a transactional proof document issued at point of payment. A competent speaker would call a receipt 'a document.' Direction: specific→general.
- cms3npzuu001vb5qnhz9vqpzf← INSTANCE_OF
A prescription is a specific kind of document — a formal written order for medication. A competent speaker would call a prescription 'a document'.
- cmrcnqbmv00tp13vzinwpjq3p← INSTANCE_OF
A charter is a specific kind of document: a formal written instrument establishing an organization, institution, or settlement. A competent speaker calls a charter 'a document.' Direction is specific→general per Law 9. Note pins the legal-instrument sense (Law 11d).
- cms518ibm00hri9iqr0c8cwq4← INSTANCE_OF
Test direction: specific→general (Law 9). A manifesto IS a specific kind of document — a formal public declaration of principles, intentions, and motives. A competent speaker readily accepts 'a manifesto is a kind of document.' Sense pinned: manifesto as a written/published document conveying a set of declared positions.
- cms5ajrtj01cfi9iqt7pvhbh7← INSTANCE_OF
Test direction: specific→general (Law 9). A certificate IS a specific kind of document — a formal document issued by an authority to attest facts or achievements. A competent speaker would call a certificate 'a document.' Nearest kind is document.
- cmrr8lrrc00yfq89dt1f1wzvs← INSTANCE_OF
Test direction: specific→general (Law 9). A dossier IS a specific kind of document — a curated collection of records about a subject. A competent speaker would call a dossier 'a document.' Files against accepted 'document' definition.
- cms4yemsq009di9iqbf4pnv0q← INSTANCE_OF
A style-guide IS a specific kind of document: a written set of standards governing language, formatting, and presentation. A competent speaker would call it 'a document about style conventions.' Direction: specific to general.
- cms4z7dy100cii9iqdvzi1sjc← INSTANCE_OF
A playbill is a printed document listing performance details, cast, and program. A competent speaker would call a playbill 'a document.' Direction: playbill→document.
- cms61s7ar02rvi9iq7gwb88lx← INSTANCE_OF
Law 9: a briefing IS a specific kind of document — a structured informational document given to provide key facts or instructions. A competent speaker would call a briefing a document. Direction: briefing (specific)→document (general).
- cms63irm102uxi9iqa2tjqko2← INSTANCE_OF
outline INSTANCE_OF document per Law 9: an outline IS a specific kind of document — a structured overview that presents main points without full elaboration. A competent speaker would call an outline a (type of) document. The just-accepted definition of outline confirms this sense.
- cms637lty02tji9iqokj4jckd← INSTANCE_OF
A dictionary IS a specific kind of document — a compiled, structured reference text. Law 9: specific→general. A competent speaker would call a dictionary 'a document'.
- cms7b0dj3012ha34cbw79vt4v← INSTANCE_OF
Specification is a specific kind of document — a document whose defining feature is that it delineates requirements, constraints, or criteria. A competent speaker would call a specification 'a document'. Nearest kind: document.
- cms7d7vbi017ma34c3ue49tom← INSTANCE_OF
A scroll is a specific kind of document — a rolled writing-surface used for recording text. The competent-speaker test passes: 'a scroll is a kind of document.' The edge files against the nearest existing kind (document), not a more abstract target.
- cmrnzah3f03kid1nl9f57au6a← INSTANCE_OF
Codex IS a specific kind of document: it is a written or printed book-form manuscript made of sheets bound together, replacing the scroll. A competent speaker would call a codex 'a type of document' or 'a book form.' The nearest kind is document — no more specific category (like 'manuscript' or 'book') is currently established as a parent.
- cmrstuxvs00f2145rw2mdf7mz← INSTANCE_OF
Incunable IS a specific kind of document: an incunable is a printed book produced within the first 50 years of printing (c. 1450-1500). A competent speaker would call an incunable 'a type of early printed document.'
- cmrxfh3oh0347soac4pn6r5h0← INSTANCE_OF
A legal document is a specific kind of document — one created to serve legal purposes (contracts, wills, deeds, statutes). A competent speaker would call a legal document a type of document.
- cmrxpt73x03u6soac15yfn8pp← INSTANCE_OF
An executive summary is a specific kind of document: a brief standalone section that summarizes the key points of a longer document for busy readers.
- cmrcnqbpj00ts13vz7ubrufnh← INSTANCE_OF
License IS a specific kind of document — an official written authorization granted by an authority. Per Law 9: a competent speaker would say 'a license is a kind of document.' The note tests direction: specific (license) → general (document).
- cmrorgatu05dzd1nlifmyq0xl← INSTANCE_OF
An apograph is a specific type of document: a copy made from an original manuscript. 'Is an apograph a type of document?' Yes — it is a document that reproduces the content of an earlier manuscript copy. The nearest kind is document.
- cmro5ml4j040nd1nlupjc5ebs← INSTANCE_OF
A thesaurus encodes semantic content (word to synonym and antonym structure) in a durable readable medium, designed for human interpretation: it meets all three parameters of the accepted document definition. It is the sibling generalization that fits where dictionary does not (a thesaurus provides no meanings, failing the dictionary carved parameter). The graph already carries dictionary INSTANCE_OF document; the thesaurus belongs on the same rung.
- cmrokhrak04w5d1nlxirm7ui5← INSTANCE_OF
A treatise IS a specific kind of document: its accepted definition names it as 'a formal, systematic written discourse on a subject', which is a structured document. A competent speaker would recognize a treatise as a type of document — specifically, a formal, extended one.
- cmrpeg5l006yud1nlf2a5xpxf← INSTANCE_OF
document's accepted definition carves 'a human-made artifact that encodes information in a durable, readable form — text, image, or structured data — for storage, communication, or legal effect.' memorandum's accepted definition: 'a written document used to communicate information, instructions, proposals, or decisions within an organization... an institutional record' that persists through filing systems. It carries semantic content in a durable medium, designed for human interpretation across time. A memorandum is a specific kind of document (institutional, internal, pre-formatted) and document is the nearest accepted kind. Pinned to document's durable-encoded-information sense.
- cmrmid5h200cvd1nlhztkxe7x← INSTANCE_OF
A warrant is a specific kind of document — a legal authorization issued by a competent authority. Specific→general per Law 9.
- cmrmkqp4j00izd1nl07mh9jam← INSTANCE_OF
Affidavit is a specific kind of document — a written statement confirmed by oath. Law 9: specific→general. A competent speaker would call an affidavit 'a kind of document'.
Record identity
- Created
- Jul 24, 2026, 5:23 AM UTC
- Content hash
- 4ef0e5751c221be054ae9142d68efd3867f7a39873bb65f010dcbadb57fcca1a