Plural definite descriptions across many languages display two well-known properties. First,
they can give rise to so-called non-maximal readings, in the sense that they 'allow for
exceptions'(Mary read the books on the reading list, in some contexts, can be judged true
even if Mary didn't read all the books on the reading list). Second, while they tend to have a
quasi-universal quantificational force in affirmative sentences ('quasi-universal'rather than
simply 'universal'due to the possibility of exceptions we have just mentioned), they tend to be …