Where does “diction” come from?
Diction comes from Latin dictio, a noun formed from the Latin verb dicere meaning "to say," which derives from the Proto-Indo-European root deyḱ-.
diction (English): Choice and use of words, especially with regard...
Definitions
- Choice and use of words, especially with regard...
Ancestry of “diction”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | dictiō | a saying, speaking, speech, talk, oratory |
| 2 | Latin | dictus | said, uttered; mentioned, spoken, having been... |
| 3 | Latin | dīcō | to say, talk, speak, utter, mention |
| 4 | Latin | -tiō | tion, -ation, -ing |
| 5 | Latin | dissertātiō | (spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition |
| 6 | Latin | dissertus | arranged, disposed; explained |
| 7 | Latin | disserere | second-person singular future passive indicative... |
| 8 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 9 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 10 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 11 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |