Part 264

De Quincey.

Syn. -- Diction, Style, Phraseology. Style relates both to language and thought; diction, to language only; phraseology, to the mechanical structure of sentences, or the mode in which they are phrased. The style of Burke was enriched with all the higher graces of composition; his diction was varied and copious; his phraseology, at times, was careless and cumbersome. "Diction is a general term applicable alike to a single sentence or a connected composition. Errors in grammar, false construction, a confused disposition of words, or an improper application of them, constitute bad diction; but the niceties, the elegancies, the peculiarities, and the beauties of composition, which mark the genius and talent of the writer, are what is comprehended under the name of style." Crabb.

Dic`tion*al"ri*an (?), n. A lexicographer. [R.]

Dic"tion*a*ry (?), n.; pl. Dictionaries (#). [Cf. F. dictionnaire. See Diction.] 1. A book containing the words of a language, arranged alphabetically, with explanations of their meanings; a lexicon; a vocabulary; a wordbook.

I applied myself to the perusal of our writers; and noting whatever might be of use to ascertain or illustrate any word or phrase, accumulated in time the materials of a dictionary.

Johnson.

2. Hence, a book containing the words belonging to any system or province of knowledge, arranged alphabetically; as, a dictionary of medicine or of botany; a biographical dictionary.

||Dic"tum (?), n.; pl. L. Dicta (#), E. Dictums (#). [L., neuter of dictus, p. p. of dicere to say. See Diction, and cf. Ditto.] 1. An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; an apothegm.

A class of critical dicta everywhere current.

M. Arnold.

2. (Law) (a) A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it. (b) (French Law) The report of a judgment made by one of the judges who has given it. Bouvier. (c) An arbitrament or award.

Dic*ty"o*gen (?), n. [Gr. &?; a net + -gen.] (Bot.) A plant with net-veined leaves, and monocotyledonous embryos, belonging to the class Dictyogenæ, proposed by Lindley for the orders Dioscoreaceæ, Smilaceæ, Trilliaceæ, etc.

Di*cy"a*nide (?), n. [Pref. di- + cyanogen.] (Chem.) A compound of a binary type containing two cyanogen groups or radicals; -- called also bicyanide.

||Di`cy*e"ma*ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; an embryo.] (Zoöl.) An order of worms parasitic in cephalopods. They are remarkable for the extreme simplicity of their structure. The embryo exists in two forms.

Di`cy*e"mid (?), a. (Zoöl.) Like or belonging to the Dicyemata. -- n. One of the Dicyemata.

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Di*cyn"o*dont (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; dog + 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, tooth.] (Paleon.) One of a group of extinct reptiles having the jaws armed with a horny beak, as in turtles, and in the genus Dicynodon, supporting also a pair of powerful tusks. Their remains are found in triassic strata of South Africa and India.

Did (?), imp. of Do.

{ Di*dac"tic (?), Di*dac"tic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to teach; akin to L. docere to teach: cf. F. didactique. See Docile.] Fitted or intended to teach; conveying instruction; preceptive; instructive; teaching some moral lesson; as, didactic essays. "Didactical writings." Jer. Taylor.

The finest didactic poem in any language.

Macaulay.

Di*dac"tic, n. A treatise on teaching or education. [Obs.] Milton.

Di*dac"tic*al*ly, adv. In a didactic manner.

Di*dac"ti*cism (?), n. The didactic method or system.

Di`dac*tic"i*ty (?), n. Aptitude for teaching. Hare.

Di*dac"tics (?), n. The art or science of teaching.

Di*dac"tyl (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; finger, toe: cf. F. didactyle.] (Zoöl.) An animal having only two digits.

Di*dac"tyl*ous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having only two digits; two-toed.