dictionary
UK[ˈdɪkʃənri]US[ˈdɪkʃəˌneri]
n
A book or electronic resource that lists the words of a language in alphabetical order and gives their meaning, or gives the equivalent words in a different language.
n
A reference book on any subject, the items of which are arranged in alphabetical order.
Morpheme Breakdown
dict
ion
ary
dict
to say/speak
ion
noun suffix
ary
place/collection
Etymology
The word 'dictionary' has a straightforward lineage from Latin, directly reflecting its function. It originates from the Medieval Latin dictionarium, a collection of dictiones (words or sayings). The root dicere, meaning "to say, speak," is of Proto-Indo-European origin (deik-, meaning "to show, pronounce solemnly"). The suffix -arium denotes a place or receptacle. Thus, the literal construction "a collection/place for words" perfectly captures the essence of the modern book, which serves as a repository for the spoken and written vocabulary of a language.
Analysis
Structure: dict (to say/speak) + ion (noun suffix) + ary (place/collection)
- dict: From Latin dictio (saying, speaking), from the verb dicere (to say). It functions as the core root carrying the meaning of speech or words.
- ion: A Latin-derived suffix forming nouns of action or state. In this word, it nominalizes the root.
- ary: A Latin-derived suffix (-arius) forming adjectives and nouns meaning "connected with" or "a place for." Here, it forms a noun meaning "a collection or place pertaining to."
Examples
I looked up the definition of "ephemeral" in the dictionary.
He is compiling a dictionary of technical terms used in robotics.
For many learners, a good bilingual dictionary is an essential tool.