Odd parsing of identifier in define

[James Kirk]

Hi guys,

define( `def' )
ifdef( `def', defined, not defined )
->
not defined

On examining the debug output, it seems that the identifier is saved as `def ' 
instead of `def'. What confuses m4 is the trailing space. The problem 
disappears if the trailing space is removed i.e. 

define( `def')

Is this a bug or a feature?

1.4.14 on Windows
1.4.16 on Linux.

regards