Full Idea
Work is needed to distinguish abstract nouns ...from the generic uses of what are otherwise concrete nouns. The contrast is that of 'humility is a virtue' and 'water is a liquid'.
Gist of Idea
'Humility is a virtue' has an abstract noun, but 'water is a liquid' has a generic concrete noun
Source
Henry Laycock (Words without Objects [2006], Intro 4 n25)
Book Reference
Laycock,Henry: 'Words without Objects' [OUP 2006], p.12
A Reaction
'Work is needed' implies 'let me through, I'm an analytic philosopher', but I don't think they will separate very easily. What does 'watery' mean? Does water have concrete virtues?