dialectic

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any formal system of reasoning that arrives at a truth by the exchange of logical arguments.
  2. A contradiction of ideas that serves as the determining factor in their interaction.
  3. development by way of overcoming internal contradictions
adj
  1. Dialectical (of or relating to dialectic)
adj
  1. Dialectal (of or relating to a dialect).

Pronunciation

/ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪk/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-dialectic.wav

Word forms

dialectic dialectics dialectick more dialectic most dialectic

Etymology

From Old French dialectique, from Late Latin dialectica, from Ancient Greek διαλεκτική (dialektikḗ, “the art of argument through interactive questioning and answering”), from διαλεκτικός (dialektikós, “relating to dialogue”), from διαλέγομαι (dialégomai, “to participate in a dialogue”), from διά (diá, “through, across”) + λέγειν (légein, “to speak”).

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