Where does “dialect” come from?
Dialect comes from Middle French dialecte, from Latin dialectos, from Ancient Greek διάλεκτος, derived from διαλέγομαι meaning to converse, combining διά with a root related to Proto-Indo-European leǵ-.
dialect (English): A variety of a language that is characteristic of...
Definitions
- A variety of a language that is characteristic of...
Ancestry of “dialect”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | dialecte | dialect |
| 2 | Latin | dialectos | a dialect; Nihilo lenior in convictores... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | διάλεκτος | discourse, conversation; manner of speech,... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | διαλέγομαι | I converse, hold a discussion, debate, argue; I... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | δῐᾰ- | apart; through, across; through; in different... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | διά | throughout |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dwís | twice, doubly; in two |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dwóh₁ | two |