logomachy

American  

[loh-gom-uh-kee] / loʊˈgɒm ə ki /

noun

• logomachies
  plural

1. a dispute about or concerning words.

2. an argument or debate marked by the reckless or incorrect use of words; meaningless battle of words.

3. a game played with cards, each bearing one letter, with which words are formed.

---

logomachy British  

/ lɒˈɡɒməkɪ /

noun

1. argument about words or the meaning of words

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• logomach
  noun
• logomachist
  noun
• logomachic
  adjective
• logomachical
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• logomachies
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of logomachy

First recorded in 1560–70; from Greek logomachía; see origin at logo-, -machy

---

Explanation

A fight about words is called logomachy. You don't have to be an etymologist to find yourself caught up in logomachy, but you have to care about words and their meanings. You and your word-loving friends might engage in logomachy, if you argue about the Latin and Sanskrit roots of your favorite words. There's not much to disagree on when it comes to the rare word logomachy itself, though — in Greek, logos means "word," and the suffix -machy always means "battle" or "contest," from the Greek makhe, or "fight."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

logomachy logomachies

This was just the beginning of the logomachy.

From Slate ● Jan. 4, 2012

We are today solid enough, balanced enough, sure enough of ourselves not to be impressed either by logomachy* or gesticulations ...

From Time Magazine Archive

How innocent was this gentleman of the arts and stratagems of logomachy, or book-wars!

From Calamities and Quarrels of Authors by Isaac Disraeli

Particularly in America, one discovers her intellectual fog in the continual use of such words as mental, elemental, cosmic, universality, social harmony, essential cosmos, and other similar ornaments of the modern logomachy.

From The Intelligence of Woman by Walter Lionel George

This “confusion of words” thickened, till the Jesuits introduced in this logomachy with the Jansenists papal bulls, royal edicts, and a regiment of dragoons!

From Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 3 by Isaac Disraeli

Both the adverse parties triumphed; that is usual in these logomachies; but the Romanists account for the success of the Reformed by the circumstance that their judges were Reformers.

From Amenities of Literature Consisting of Sketches and Characters of English Literature by Isaac Disraeli

After triumphing for a season, it has been of late years often treated with contempt, and sometimes banished to the limbo of extinct logomachies.

From The English Utilitarians, Volume II (of 3) James Mill by Sir Leslie Stephen

Can any words more exactly describe the political reasonings of Mr Mill than those in which Lord Bacon thus describes the logomachies of the schoolmen?

From Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2 by Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay

These theologians were, on the one hand, opposed to all unnecessary logomachies i.e., controversies involving no doctrinal differences, and, at the same time, were most careful not to fall into any extreme position themselves.

From Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church by F. (Friedrich) Bente

First of all, I conceive that, as I have indicated, a really scientific habit of thought would dispel many hopeless logomachies.

From Social Rights and Duties, Volume I (of 2) Addresses to Ethical Societies by Sir Leslie Stephen

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---