Each sign can be classified according to three elements: sign-vehicle (qualisign, sinsign, or legisign), object (icon, index, or symbol), and interpretant (rheme, dicent, or delome)
Peirce believed that the three elements, and the respective classifications they imposed upon signs, could be combined to give a complete list of sign types. That is, since a sign has a sign-vehicle it can be classified as either a qualisign, a sinsign, or legisign. Additionally, since that sign has an object it can be classified as either an icon, an index, or a symbol. And finally, since that sign will also determine an interpretant it can be classified as either a rheme, a dicent, or a delome