deictic

[dahyk-tik]

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.

Nearby words

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

Related formsdeic·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for deictics

deictic

adjective

logic proving by direct argumentCompare elenctic

noun

another word for indexical (def. 2)

Derived Formsdeictically, 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

Word Origin and History for deictics

deictic

adj.

1828, from Latinized form of Greek deiktikos "able to show," from deiktos "shown," verbal adjective from deiknynai "to show" (see diction).