deictic

[ dahyk-tik ]

adjective

1. Logic. proving directly.
2. Grammar. specifying identity or spatial or temporal location from the perspective of one or more of the participants in an act of speech or writing, in the context of either an external situation or the surrounding discourse, as we, you, here, there, now, then, this, that, the former, or the latter.

noun

1. Grammar. a deictic element.

deictic

/ ˈdaɪktɪk /

adjective

1. logic proving by direct argument Compare elenctic

noun

1. another word for indexical

Derived Forms

• ˈdeictically, adverb

Other Words From

• deicti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of deictic¹

1820–30; < Greek deiktikós demonstrative, equivalent to deikt ( ós ) able to be proved, verbal adjective of deiknýnai to show, prove, point + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of deictic¹

C17: from Greek deiktikos concerning proof, from deiknunai to show