deixis

American

[dahyk-sis] / ˈdaɪk sɪs /

noun

Grammar.

the operation or function of deictic elements.

deixis British

/ ˈdaɪksɪs /

noun

grammar the use or reference of a deictic word

"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

Etymology

Origin of deixis

1945–50; < Greek deîxis literally, proof, display, equivalent to deik ( nýnai ) to show, prove, point + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In his scholarly work, Dr. Nunberg published papers on topics including “Indexicality and Deixis” and “Indexical Descriptions and Descriptive Indexicals.”

From Washington Post

“It could invade wheat fields of eastern Washington,” said Ed Johannes, who runs a business, Deixis Consultants, which does surveys to identify mollusks for governments and businesses.

From Washington Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023