JargonFile/entries/gensym.txt
2014-04-26 16:54:15 +01:00

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gensym
/jensim/ [from MacLISP for generated symbol ] 1. v. To invent a new name for
something temporary, in such a way that the name is almost certainly not in
conflict with one already in use. 2. n. The resulting name. The canonical
form of a gensym is Gnnnn where nnnn represents a number; any LISP hacker
would recognize G0093 (for example) as a gensym. 3. A freshly generated data
structure with a gensymmed name. Gensymmed names are useful for storing or
uniquely identifying crufties (see cruft ).