Where does “lect” come from?
Lect is a back-formation from English dialect, which derives from Medieval Latin dialectus, from Ancient Greek διάλεκτος (diálektos), meaning speech or conversation.
lect (English): A specific form of a language or language...
Definitions
- A specific form of a language or language...
Ancestry of “lect”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -lect | variety |
| 2 | English | dialect | A variety of a language that is characteristic of... |
| 3 | Middle French | dialecte | dialect |
| 4 | Latin | dialectos | a dialect; Nihilo lenior in convictores... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | διάλεκτος | discourse, conversation; manner of speech,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | διαλέγομαι | I converse, hold a discussion, debate, argue; I... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | δῐᾰ- | apart; through, across; through; in different... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | διά | throughout |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dwís | twice, doubly; in two |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | dwóh₁ | two |