Cant Remember A Certain Word.

[OlieRendch]

So not long ago I learnt this word which basically means describing an object using a defining quality of that object, like saying "water is wet" or "ice is frozen". I'm sure there's a word for it but I cant remember.

[Baldric]

Property/Properties

[pixie373]

Self-explanatory?

[ferlew]

Adjective?

[shoota]

Association?

[Psybbo]

essence?

[scrunge999]

In your definitions, "wet" and "frozen" are examples of a definiens - the bit defining the term being defined. The term being defined is the definiendum.

[shoota]

Definitely definitive.

[Canary42]

autoreflexive

[sandyRoe]

Inscape
according to Gerard Manley Hopkins

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inscape

[bibblebub]

both phrases you have given are truisms

[factor-fiction]

The word youa re thinking of may be tautology.
I'm not quite sure the examples are quote right though

[factor-fiction]

I got some frozen ice from the freezer.
I went there personally.
I saw the dilapidated ruins in Rome

[Clanad]

I'd offer redundant ...

[Quizmonkey]

The examples quoted are not tautology but it may be what he's thinking of.

[Peter Pedant]

haeccity ?

in case anyone is wondering it is pronounced hees-ity

this ness

[Peter Pedant]

the what word .... [ you know like the what word for place is 'where?' ]
for haeccity is quiddity.

I am not sure how you use it

[greenrook]

Why is this thus? What is the reason for this thusness...? Sorry, I'll get me coat.