See dictionaryese in All languages combined, or Wiktionary
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"expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *deyḱ-\nProto-Indo-European *-eti\nProto-Indo-European *déyḱeti\nProto-Italic *deikō\nLatin dīcō\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *-Hō\nProto-Indo-European *-tiHō\nProto-Italic *-tiō\nLatin -tiō\nLatin dictiō\nProto-Indo-European *-yósder.\nProto-Italic *-āzios\nLatin -āriusnom.\nLatin -ārium\n▲\nLatin dictiō\n▲\nLatin -āriusnom.\nLatin -ārius\nLatin dictiōnārius?\nMedieval Latin dictiōnāriumlbor.\nMiddle English dixionare\nEnglish dictionary\nProto-Indo-European *-iskos\nProto-Germanic *-iskaz\nProto-West Germanic *-iskbor.\nLate Latin -iscus\n▲\nVulgar Latin -iscus\nLatin -ēnsis\nOld French -eisbor.\nMiddle English -eys\nEnglish -ese\nEnglish dictionaryese\n[Appendix:Glossary#learned_borrowing|Learned borrowing]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"dictionary\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"to speak\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"to show\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"to be pointing out\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"to point out\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*deyḱ-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-eti\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*déyḱeti\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*deikō\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"dīcō\", \"gloss\" : \"to say\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*-tiHō\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-Hō\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*-tiō\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-tiō\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"dictiō\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"nom.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Neuter nominalization of\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"suffix\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-yós\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*-āzios\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ārius\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"nominalization\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ārium\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"gloss\" : \"saying; speech\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : { \"1\" : \"la\", \"2\" : \":af\", \"3\" : \"dīcō<t:to say><id:to speak>\", \"4\" : \"-tiō\", \"text\" : \"+\", \"title\" : \"dictiō\", \"tree\" : \"1\" }, \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"dictiō\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"id\" : \"agent noun\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"nom.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Nominalization of\", \"terms\" : [ { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"children\" : [ ], \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"status\" : { \"1\" : \"la\", \"2\" : \":inh\", \"3\" : \"itc-pro:*-āzios<id:adjective>\", \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"title\" : \"-ārius\", \"pos\" : \"suffix\" }, \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ārius\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"nominalization\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ārius\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"dictiōnārius\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Medieval Latin\", \"term\" : \"dictiōnārium\", \"lang\" : \"la-med\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"lbor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"dixionare\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"diction\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"children\" : [ ], \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"status\" : { \"1\" : \"la\", \"2\" : \":inh\", \"3\" : \"itc-pro:*-āzios<id:adjective>\", \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"title\" : \"-ārius\", \"pos\" : \"suffix\" }, \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ārius\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-arie\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-ary\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"afeq\", \"is_invisible\" : \"all\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"dictionary\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"-eys enm\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"-eis fro\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"pertaining to\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"pertaining to\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-iskos\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-iskaz\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-isk\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Late Latin\", \"term\" : \"-iscus\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la-lat\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : { \"1\" : \"la\", \"2\" : \":bor\", \"3\" : \"gmw-pro:*-isk<id:adjective>\", \"id\" : \"suf\", \"tree\" : \"1\" }, \"lang_name\" : \"Vulgar Latin\", \"term\" : \"-iscus\", \"lang\" : \"la-vul\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ēnsis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"-eis\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-eys\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-ese\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\", \"pos\" : \"suffix denoting jargon used in a particular context\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"dictionaryese\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"dictionaryese\">\nFrom dictionary + -ese (suffix denoting jargon used in a particular context).",
"name": "ety"
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],
"etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *deyḱ-\nProto-Indo-European *-eti\nProto-Indo-European *déyḱeti\nProto-Italic *deikō\nLatin dīcō\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *-Hō\nProto-Indo-European *-tiHō\nProto-Italic *-tiō\nLatin -tiō\nLatin dictiō\nProto-Indo-European *-yósder.\nProto-Italic *-āzios\nLatin -āriusnom.\nLatin -ārium\n▲\nLatin dictiō\n▲\nLatin -āriusnom.\nLatin -ārius\nLatin dictiōnārius?\nMedieval Latin dictiōnāriumlbor.\nMiddle English dixionare\nEnglish dictionary\nProto-Indo-European *-iskos\nProto-Germanic *-iskaz\nProto-West Germanic *-iskbor.\nLate Latin -iscus\n▲\nVulgar Latin -iscus\nLatin -ēnsis\nOld French -eisbor.\nMiddle English -eys\nEnglish -ese\nEnglish dictionaryese\nFrom dictionary + -ese (suffix denoting jargon used in a particular context).",
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"ese"
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"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
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"name": "Language",
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"name": "Lexicography",
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"ref": "1962, D. F. S. Scott, “Langenscheidts Handwörterbuch Deutsch–Englisch. Langenscheidt’s Concise Dictionary German–English. (Second Edition, Berlin 1960; pp. 672; published in England by Methuen; 17s. 6d.) [book review]”, in The Durham University Journal, volume LIV (New Series, volume XXIII), Durham, County Durham: Senate of the University of Durham, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 29 Jun 2022, page 86:",
"text": "For a concise dictionary the extent of the German vocabulary dealt with is commendable and fairly searching spot-checks in many fields have shown no serious gaps, but an English reviewer must be forgiven for commenting on the ‘dictionaryese’ of some of the English renderings.",
"type": "quotation"
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{
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46,
59
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"ref": "1975, Jerry A[lan] Fodor, “The Structure of the Internal Code: Some Linguistic Evidence”, in The Language of Thought, New York, N.Y.: Thomas Y[oung] Crowell Company, →ISBN, page 127:",
"text": "'Cause to die' is immediately recognizable as dictionaryese, which is to say that dictionaries do not, in general, honor the condition that definitions must be couched in the syntax of surface English.",
"type": "quotation"
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162,
175
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"ref": "1981, Justin Wintle, “Introduction”, in Justin Wintle, editor, Makers of Modern Culture, New York, N.Y.: Facts on File, →ISBN, page xvi:",
"text": "Such an approach has two immediate advantages: it disposes of the need to present what is not fact as fact; and it goes some way to seeing off the need to employ dictionaryese, the crabbed and clipped prose-style that, in many reference-books, only ossifies its subject-matter.",
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"ref": "2003 December 4, YiLing Chen-Josephson, “Word Up”, in Slate, New York, N.Y.: The Slate Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 Mar 2023:",
"text": "Oxford American’s usage notes are among the best I’ve found: clear, consistent, sensibly prescriptive, and up-to-date (it’s the only dictionary to acknowledge that “nonplussed” is frequently misused to mean “unperturbed”). Its rendering of slang into dictionaryese—“shake one's booty” is defined as “dance energetically”—is a thing of beauty.",
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"ref": "2017, Kory Stamper, “Surfboard: On Defining”, in Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries, New York, N.Y.: Pantheon Books, →ISBN, page 103:",
"text": "If I were defining \"hella\" without using substitutability, I would probably come up with something long-winded and full of dictionaryese, like \"to an excessive degree.\"",
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"ref": "2019 January 14, Robert Carnegie, “Homosexuality is more acceptable to atheists, than theists”, in alt.atheism (Usenet):",
"text": "<https://www.dictionary.com/browse/sodomy> runs down to \"Sexual intercourse that is not the union of the genital organs of a man and a woman\", but in dictionaryese that /could/ mean one specific sexual intercourse that they're choosing not to describe.",
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[
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[
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],
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"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"sense": "style of language used in dictionary definitions",
"word": "sanakirjakieli"
},
{
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"lang_code": "mk",
"roman": "rečníkarski jázik",
"sense": "style of language used in dictionary definitions",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "речни́карски ја́зик"
},
{
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"sense": "style of language used in dictionary definitions",
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"word": "żargon słownikowy"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"lang_code": "pt",
"sense": "style of language used in dictionary definitions",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "dicionarês"
}
]
}
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]
},
{
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"tree": "1"
},
"expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *deyḱ-\nProto-Indo-European *-eti\nProto-Indo-European *déyḱeti\nProto-Italic *deikō\nLatin dīcō\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *-Hō\nProto-Indo-European *-tiHō\nProto-Italic *-tiō\nLatin -tiō\nLatin dictiō\nProto-Indo-European *-yósder.\nProto-Italic *-āzios\nLatin -āriusnom.\nLatin -ārium\n▲\nLatin dictiō\n▲\nLatin -āriusnom.\nLatin -ārius\nLatin dictiōnārius?\nMedieval Latin dictiōnāriumlbor.\nMiddle English dixionare\nEnglish dictionary\nProto-Indo-European *-iskos\nProto-Germanic *-iskaz\nProto-West Germanic *-iskbor.\nLate Latin -iscus\n▲\nVulgar Latin -iscus\nLatin -ēnsis\nOld French -eisbor.\nMiddle English -eys\nEnglish -ese\nEnglish dictionaryese\n[Appendix:Glossary#learned_borrowing|Learned borrowing]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"dictionary\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"to speak\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"to show\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"to be pointing out\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"to point out\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*deyḱ-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-eti\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*déyḱeti\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*deikō\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"dīcō\", \"gloss\" : \"to say\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*-tiHō\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-Hō\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*-tiō\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-tiō\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"dictiō\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"nom.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Neuter nominalization of\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"suffix\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-yós\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*-āzios\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ārius\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"nominalization\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ārium\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"gloss\" : \"saying; speech\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : { \"1\" : \"la\", \"2\" : \":af\", \"3\" : \"dīcō<t:to say><id:to speak>\", \"4\" : \"-tiō\", \"text\" : \"+\", \"title\" : \"dictiō\", \"tree\" : \"1\" }, \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"dictiō\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"id\" : \"agent noun\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"nom.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Nominalization of\", \"terms\" : [ { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"children\" : [ ], \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"status\" : { \"1\" : \"la\", \"2\" : \":inh\", \"3\" : \"itc-pro:*-āzios<id:adjective>\", \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"title\" : \"-ārius\", \"pos\" : \"suffix\" }, \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ārius\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"nominalization\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ārius\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"dictiōnārius\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Medieval Latin\", \"term\" : \"dictiōnārium\", \"lang\" : \"la-med\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"lbor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"dixionare\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"diction\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"children\" : [ ], \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"status\" : { \"1\" : \"la\", \"2\" : \":inh\", \"3\" : \"itc-pro:*-āzios<id:adjective>\", \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"title\" : \"-ārius\", \"pos\" : \"suffix\" }, \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ārius\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-arie\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-ary\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"afeq\", \"is_invisible\" : \"all\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"dictionary\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"-eys enm\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"-eis fro\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"adjective\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"pertaining to\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"pertaining to\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-iskos\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-iskaz\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-isk\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Late Latin\", \"term\" : \"-iscus\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la-lat\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : { \"1\" : \"la\", \"2\" : \":bor\", \"3\" : \"gmw-pro:*-isk<id:adjective>\", \"id\" : \"suf\", \"tree\" : \"1\" }, \"lang_name\" : \"Vulgar Latin\", \"term\" : \"-iscus\", \"lang\" : \"la-vul\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ēnsis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"-eis\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-eys\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-ese\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\", \"pos\" : \"suffix denoting jargon used in a particular context\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"dictionaryese\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"dictionaryese\">\nFrom dictionary + -ese (suffix denoting jargon used in a particular context).",
"name": "ety"
}
],
"etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *deyḱ-\nProto-Indo-European *-eti\nProto-Indo-European *déyḱeti\nProto-Italic *deikō\nLatin dīcō\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *-Hō\nProto-Indo-European *-tiHō\nProto-Italic *-tiō\nLatin -tiō\nLatin dictiō\nProto-Indo-European *-yósder.\nProto-Italic *-āzios\nLatin -āriusnom.\nLatin -ārium\n▲\nLatin dictiō\n▲\nLatin -āriusnom.\nLatin -ārius\nLatin dictiōnārius?\nMedieval Latin dictiōnāriumlbor.\nMiddle English dixionare\nEnglish dictionary\nProto-Indo-European *-iskos\nProto-Germanic *-iskaz\nProto-West Germanic *-iskbor.\nLate Latin -iscus\n▲\nVulgar Latin -iscus\nLatin -ēnsis\nOld French -eisbor.\nMiddle English -eys\nEnglish -ese\nEnglish dictionaryese\nFrom dictionary + -ese (suffix denoting jargon used in a particular context).",
"forms": [
{
"form": "dictionarese",
"tags": [
"alternative"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "-"
},
"expansion": "dictionaryese (uncountable)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"hyphenations": [
{
"parts": [
"dic",
"tion",
"a",
"ry",
"ese"
]
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English entries with etymology texts",
"English entries with etymology trees",
"English entries with etymon",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English informal terms",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *deyḱ-",
"English terms suffixed with -ese",
"English terms with quotations",
"English uncountable nouns",
"Entries with translation boxes",
"Pages using etymon with no ID",
"Pages with 1 entry",
"Pages with entries",
"Pages with etymology trees",
"Pages with etymon",
"Rhymes:English/iːz",
"Rhymes:English/iːz/4 syllables",
"Rhymes:English/iːz/5 syllables",
"Terms with Finnish translations",
"Terms with Macedonian translations",
"Terms with Polish translations",
"Terms with Portuguese translations",
"en:Language",
"en:Lexicography"
],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
227,
240
]
],
"ref": "1962, D. F. S. Scott, “Langenscheidts Handwörterbuch Deutsch–Englisch. Langenscheidt’s Concise Dictionary German–English. (Second Edition, Berlin 1960; pp. 672; published in England by Methuen; 17s. 6d.) [book review]”, in The Durham University Journal, volume LIV (New Series, volume XXIII), Durham, County Durham: Senate of the University of Durham, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 29 Jun 2022, page 86:",
"text": "For a concise dictionary the extent of the German vocabulary dealt with is commendable and fairly searching spot-checks in many fields have shown no serious gaps, but an English reviewer must be forgiven for commenting on the ‘dictionaryese’ of some of the English renderings.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
46,
59
]
],
"ref": "1975, Jerry A[lan] Fodor, “The Structure of the Internal Code: Some Linguistic Evidence”, in The Language of Thought, New York, N.Y.: Thomas Y[oung] Crowell Company, →ISBN, page 127:",
"text": "'Cause to die' is immediately recognizable as dictionaryese, which is to say that dictionaries do not, in general, honor the condition that definitions must be couched in the syntax of surface English.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
162,
175
]
],
"ref": "1981, Justin Wintle, “Introduction”, in Justin Wintle, editor, Makers of Modern Culture, New York, N.Y.: Facts on File, →ISBN, page xvi:",
"text": "Such an approach has two immediate advantages: it disposes of the need to present what is not fact as fact; and it goes some way to seeing off the need to employ dictionaryese, the crabbed and clipped prose-style that, in many reference-books, only ossifies its subject-matter.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
251,
264
]
],
"ref": "2003 December 4, YiLing Chen-Josephson, “Word Up”, in Slate, New York, N.Y.: The Slate Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 Mar 2023:",
"text": "Oxford American’s usage notes are among the best I’ve found: clear, consistent, sensibly prescriptive, and up-to-date (it’s the only dictionary to acknowledge that “nonplussed” is frequently misused to mean “unperturbed”). Its rendering of slang into dictionaryese—“shake one's booty” is defined as “dance energetically”—is a thing of beauty.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
123,
136
]
],
"ref": "2017, Kory Stamper, “Surfboard: On Defining”, in Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries, New York, N.Y.: Pantheon Books, →ISBN, page 103:",
"text": "If I were defining \"hella\" without using substitutability, I would probably come up with something long-winded and full of dictionaryese, like \"to an excessive degree.\"",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
150,
163
]
],
"ref": "2019 January 14, Robert Carnegie, “Homosexuality is more acceptable to atheists, than theists”, in alt.atheism (Usenet):",
"text": "<https://www.dictionary.com/browse/sodomy> runs down to \"Sexual intercourse that is not the union of the genital organs of a man and a woman\", but in dictionaryese that /could/ mean one specific sexual intercourse that they're choosing not to describe.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"The style of language used in dictionary definitions, characterized by dry, straightforward, and occasionally awkward phrasing."
],
"links": [
[
"style",
"style#Noun"
],
[
"language",
"language#Noun"
],
[
"used",
"use#Verb"
],
[
"dictionary",
"dictionary#Noun"
],
[
"definitions",
"definition#Noun"
],
[
"characterized",
"characterize#Verb"
],
[
"dry",
"dry#Adjective"
],
[
"straightforward",
"straightforward#Adjective"
],
[
"occasionally",
"occasionally"
],
[
"awkward",
"awkward#Adjective"
],
[
"phrasing",
"phrasing#Noun"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(informal) The style of language used in dictionary definitions, characterized by dry, straightforward, and occasionally awkward phrasing."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "lexicographese"
}
],
"tags": [
"informal",
"uncountable"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ˈdɪk.ʃəˌnə.ɹɪˈiːz/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈdɪk.ʃən.ɹɪˈiːz/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ˈdɪk.ʃəˌnɛ.ɹiˈiz/",
"tags": [
"Canada",
"General-American"
]
},
{
"audio": "en-us-dictionaryese.ogg",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/b8/En-us-dictionaryese.ogg/En-us-dictionaryese.ogg.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/En-us-dictionaryese.ogg",
"tags": [
"US"
]
},
{
"rhymes": "-iːz"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"sense": "style of language used in dictionary definitions",
"word": "sanakirjakieli"
},
{
"code": "mk",
"lang": "Macedonian",
"lang_code": "mk",
"roman": "rečníkarski jázik",
"sense": "style of language used in dictionary definitions",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "речни́карски ја́зик"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"lang_code": "pl",
"sense": "style of language used in dictionary definitions",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "żargon słownikowy"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"lang_code": "pt",
"sense": "style of language used in dictionary definitions",
"tags": [
"masculine"
],
"word": "dicionarês"
}
],
"word": "dictionaryese"
}
Download raw JSONL data for dictionaryese meaning in English (16.3kB)
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-09-16 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-09-02 using wiktextract (d6fca27 and 65e1673). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.