dialectic
English
Alternative forms
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”).
Pronunciation
Noun
dialectic (plural dialectics)
- Any formal system of reasoning that arrives at a truth by the exchange of logical arguments.
- A contradiction of ideas that serves as the determining factor in their interaction.
- This situation created the inner dialectic of American history.
- (Marxism) Progress of conflict, especially class conflict.
Related terms
Adjective
dialectic (comparative more dialectic, superlative most dialectic)
Further reading
- "dialectic" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 106.
Anagrams
Categories:
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Late Latin
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English 4-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Rhymes:English/ɛktɪk
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English terms with usage examples
- en:Marxism
- English adjectives