In architecture, as in many another profession and business, a tendency exists to bandy about a lot of abstract terms. These airy discussions take place because abstract terms too often remain vague and undefined; no one ever really knows exactly what anyone else is talking about. Eugene raskin has taken twelve of these terms and has brought them down to earth, securley pinning them there with the tools of the semanticist. With humor and intelligence the author has given concrete, specific referents to what were formerly the most elusive words in our vocabulary.