primary qualities

plural noun

1. (in empiricist philosophy) those properties of objects that are directly known by experience, such as size, shape, and number

Example Sentences

The 'primary qualities' do not correspond in this way to an objective world radically opposed to the subjective.

From Project Gutenberg

We have not noticed his iterativeness, his reiterativeness, because it flowed naturally from his primary qualities.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed Stewart restricted the primary qualities to those and such as those just named.

From Project Gutenberg

It is by an association somewhat similar that we connect our sensations of colour with the primary qualities of body.

From Project Gutenberg

Primary qualities are those of size, shape, and perhaps position; all others are secondary.

From Project Gutenberg