A
symbol is a representation of a thing, concept, or quality. A word, for example, is a symbol which references its own definition; that is, it "stands for" the thing defined in a given
language.
Mathematical symbols likewise represent quantities, operations, et cetera. The manipulation of these symbols allows one to explore the relationships between the things, ideas, or qualities. In a literary or psychic context symbolism is one thing standing or referring to another.
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