dialectician

English

Alternative forms

• dialecticiane, dialectisiane, dialectitian (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌdʌɪəlɛkˈtɪʃn/
• IPA^(key): /ˌdaɪəlɛkˈtɪʃn/, /ˌdaɪəlɛkˈtɪʃən/

Etymology 1

From French dialecticien (“one skillful in dialectic”), from Latin dialecticus (“dialectic”) + French -ien (“-ian”) from Latin -ianus (“-ian”). Equivalent to dialectic +‎ -ian.

Noun

dialectician (plural dialecticians)

1. (chiefly historical) Someone skilled in dialectics: someone able to arrive at logical conclusions through reasoned argument. [1560]
2. (Hegelianism) Someone skilled in dialectical idealism: someone able to arrive at historical conclusions through consideration of contradictions. [1871]
3. (Marxism) Someone skilled in dialectical materialism: someone able to arrive at socio-political conclusions through consideration of class differences.

Hypernyms

• (one skilled at dialectic reasoning): logician, reasoner, debater
• (one skilled in dialectical idealism): Hegelian
• (one skilled in dialectical materialism): Marxist, Communist

Etymology 2

From dialectic (“dialectical”) +‎ -ian.

Noun

dialectician (plural dialecticians)

1. Someone knowledgable about dialects. [1848]

Synonyms

• dialectologist

Hypernyms

• linguist, orthoepist

References

• “dialectician”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “dialectician, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2014.