In construing the intended meaning of the terminology used in this chapter, the following rules shall be observed:

    A.    Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, words and phrases shall have the meaning respectively ascribed to them in Section 15.44.070; terms not defined in Section 15.44.070 shall have the

meanings respectively ascribed to them in the zoning ordinance of the city; if any term is not defined either in Section 15.44.070 or in the zoning ordinance of the city, the term shall have the meaning ascribed to it by Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary.

    B.    Words denoting the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter genders.

    C.    Words used in the present tense shall include the future tense.

    D.    Words used in the singular number shall include the plural number, and the plural the singular.

    E.    The word "shall" is mandatory; the word "may" is discretionary.

    F.    The term "the city" means the city of Columbia, Illinois.

    G.    The word "person" means any individual, firm, partnership, unincorporated association or private or public corporation.

    H.    All distances shall be measured to the nearest integral foot; six inches or more shall be deemed to be one foot.

    I.    References to sections shall be deemed to include all subsections within that section; but a reference to a particular subsection designates only that subsection.

    J.    A general term that follows or is followed by enumeration or specific terms shall not be limited to the enumerated class unless expressly limited. (Ord. 892 § 2-1, 1991)