From Definition to Interpretation

Having a definition means that an expression is interpretable as such. Accordingly, the word 'interpretation' is interpretable as its definition, e. g. as 'the understanding of a linguistic expression. Furthermore, the relation between definiendum and definiens, in the case of the definition of the word 'interpretation', is pre-eminently self-dynamic--the definition denotes a process that begins with its definiendum, i. e. with the perception of the word 'interpretation', and ends with its definiens, i. e. with the understanding of that word. Thus, 'interpretation' might be described as 'self-instantiating', showing that the interpretation of any expression entails an instantiation of its definition. Hence, if Definition is the Sun of language, Interpretation is its Moon.