Dialectic

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ËŒdaɪəˈlÉ›ktɪk/

Alternative forms

• dialectick obsolete

Origin

From Old French dialectique, from Late Latin dialectica, from Ancient Greek διαλεκτική (dialektike, "the art of argument through interactive questioning and answering"), from διαλεκτικός (dialektikos, "competent debater"), from διαλέγομαι (dialegomai, "to participate in a dialogue"), from διά (dia, "through, across") + λέγειν (legein, "to speak").

Full definition of dialectic

Noun

1. Any formal system of reasoning that arrives at a truth by the exchange of logical arguments.
2. A contradiction of ideas that serves as the determining factor in their interaction.This situation created the inner dialectic of American history.

Related terms

• dialect
• dialectical
• dialogue
• trialectic, trialectics

Adjective

1. dialectical