# Vocabulary Reference

**Version:** 0.2.0-draft
**Source:** OE-0002 (Core Vocabulary)
**Authoritative source for all terms:** OE-0002

This document provides a quick-access index. For full definitions, consult OE-0002 and the source specification documents.

## Core Terms

| Term | Short Definition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bedrock | Reality, which does not change regardless of an engineer's model of it | OE-0001 |
| The Thread | The model of knowledge continuity; has defined, testable properties | OE-0001 |
| Engineering Context | The structured record of reasoning behind an engineering decision | OE-0003 |
| Observation | A verifiable encounter with reality (direct or corroborated) | OE-0004 |
| Direct Observation | Measurement or experiment conducted by the practitioner or team | OE-0004 |
| Corroborated Observation | An outside observation independently confirmed by engineering evidence | OE-0004 |
| Survey | Structured assessment of the current state of understanding on a topic | OE-0005 |
| Understanding | A contextualized model of reality derived from observation and survey | OE-0006 |
| Verification | The process of testing understanding against reality | OE-0007 |
| Decision | A choice preserved as a structured context record | OE-0008 |
| Stewardship | The obligation to maintain and improve knowledge for future practitioners (transmit discipline) | OE-0009 |
| Inheritance | The act of receiving and engaging with inherited knowledge (receive discipline) | OE-0010 |
| Spiral Re-evaluation | Returning to previously examined questions with deeper understanding | OE-0001 |
| Translation | Converting observations into engineering language without importing ideology | OE-0001, editorial-principles.md |
| Amendment | Disciplined, verified extension or modification of the standard's body of knowledge | OE-0011 |
| Pre-Discipline Principle | Shared principles that predate formal discipline boundaries apply universally | OE-0001 |
| Enduring Concept | A concept named by its function, not by current technology | engineering-laws.md |