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dictio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 15:23. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈdɪk.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdik.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

dictiō f (genitive dictiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from dīcō “to say” with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Pacuvius, of speaking and of an oracle's utterance.[2] Köbler's first source is Terence; he dates Pacuvius 220–130 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the act of speaking, as in Pacuvius, and in Terence of saying, with dictiō causae the pleading of a case.[2] In Pacuvius it also meant an oracular utterance, in Cicero a speech, declamation, and in Quintilian a word, expression.[2]

Medieval Latin used it for a rhetorical composition, style, recitation and doctrine.[5] Ecclesiastical Latin uses it for language.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for an utterance, the uttering of the Word, a logical statement and a medical aphorism.[7] It was borrowed into Italian dizione and French diction, and Late Latin dictiō gave English diction in the 1540s, first meaning “a word”.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it of speaking.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses dictiō causae.[2][4]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of a word.[2][4]
  • 1540s – English diction is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Speaking; saying, dictiō causae, pleading.[2]
  2. An oracular utterance.[2]
  3. (rhetoric) A speech, declamation.[2]
  4. (grammar) A word, expression.[2]
  5. (Medieval Latin) Style; recitation.[5]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press