dialectic

English

Alternative forms

• dialectick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek διαλεκτική (dialektike, “the art of argument through interactive questioning and answering”), from διαλεκτικός (dialektikos, “competent debater”), from διαλέγομαι (dialegomai, “to participate in a dialogue”), from διά (dia, “through, across”) + λέγειν (legein, “to speak”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪk/, X-SAMPA: /%daI@"lEktIk/

Noun

dialectic (plural dialectics)

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.

   This situation created the inner dialectic of American history.

Related terms

• dialect
• dialectical
• dialogue
• trialectic, trialectics

Adjective

dialectic (comparative more dialectic, superlative most dialectic)

1. dialectical