Alan Crowe  <alan@cawtech.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
+---------------
| aburry@ieee.org writes:
| > Is it fair to say that eval is the opposite of quote?
...
| > Is there another function considered the opposite of quote?
...
| Type 2<RET>
| 
| The lisp interpreter looks at 2 and evaluates it. It
| recognises it as a number, and applies the rule that numbers
| evaluatie to themselves, so the answer is 2.
| 
| Type: (+ 2 2)<RET>
| 
| The computer sees the opening parenthesis and realises it is
| being given a list. When it reaches the closing parenthesis
| it is able to work out that it has seen a list of three items.
| The first is the + sign, so it knows to add together the values
| of the remaining items on the list. So it evaluates them, the
| number 2 having the value 2 as before. Answer: 4
+---------------

CLHS "3.1.2.1 Form Evaluation" is sometimes useful at this point:

    http://www.alu.org/HyperSpec/Body/sec_3-1-2-1.html
    Forms fall into three categories: symbols, conses, and
    self-evaluating objects. The following sections explain these
    categories.

    3.1.2.1.1 Symbols as Forms

    3.1.2.1.2 Conses as Forms

    3.1.2.1.3 Self-Evaluating Objects


-Rob

-----
Rob Warnock			<rpw3@rpw3.org>
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