deictic

[ dahyk-tik ]
/ ˈdaɪk tɪk /

adjective

Logic. proving directly.
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

Grammar. a deictic element.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
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Origin of deictic

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

OTHER WORDS FROM deictic

deic·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby deictic

dei gratia, deianira, deice, deicer, deicide, deictic, deid, deif, deific, deification, deiform
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for deictics

deictic
/ (ˈdaɪktɪk) /

adjective

logic proving by direct argumentCompare elenctic

noun

another word for indexical (def. 2)

Derived forms of deictic

deictically, adverb

Word Origin for deictic

C17: from Greek deiktikos concerning proof, from deiknunai to show
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012