Meaning
Choice and use of words, especially with regard to effective communication; the effectiveness and degree of clarity of word choice and expression.
Etymology
Origin: Middle English
From late Middle English diccion (“something said; a word or phrase”) (an obsolete sense in Modern English), borrowed directly from Latin dictiō (“a saying, speaking, uttering”) or from Old French dicïon (“word”) (Anglo-Norman dictyoun), from Late Latin dictiō (“word”), both from dīcō (“to say, to talk”) + -tiō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- (“to show, to point out”). The modern senses of “choice and use of words” and “clarity of word choice” were likely influenced by additional senses of dictiō.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle: