dictature 
Some spake what a KtraiiKe resolution it was in Lucius 
Sylla to resign 1'i-s t(i<-/:it</>;-. 
l;ni-"ii. Advancement of Learning, 1. 92. 
dicteryt (dik'to-ri), . [= Sp. Pg. dicterw, < L. 
ilii'/ariiiHi, ii willy Niiying, in form as if < Gr. 
<\in,T///>mi>, a place for showing, eccles. a sort of 
pulpit (< iSe/Knif, verbal adj. of fauarbvai, show), 
I in I. in sense < L. dicere, pp. dictux, say: see 
diction.] A witty saying ; a jest; a scoff. 
I dlil lii'iip up nil tlie dietenei 1 could against women, 
but now irr.ini Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 65. 
diction (dik'shqn), n. [= F. diction, OF. dic- 
linii, ilixiiiii = Mp. diccion = Pg. dicctto = It. di- 
zione = D. dictie = G. diction = Dan. Sw. diktion, 
< L. (lictio(n-), a saying, expression, kind of 
delivery, style, use of a word, LL. also a word 
(whence ML. dictionarium, a dictionary), < di- 
cere, pp. dictutt, say, tell, declare, name, ap- 
point, related to dlcdre, declare, proclaim, pub- 
lish, = Gr. otiK-vivat, show, point out, = 8kt. 
V/ dig, show, point out, = Goth, ga-teihan, tell, 
announce, = OHO. zinan, MHG. eihen, G. zei- 
hen, accuse (whence OHG. seigon, MHG. G. zei- 
gen, point out), = AS. icon (orig. "tihan), accuse. 
From the same Teut. root come AS. tfecan, point 
out, E. teach, and AS. tdcn, E. token, q. v. The 
L. dice're and dlcdre are the ult. sources of a 
great many E. words: namely, from L. dicere, 
E. diet, edict, verdict, dictum, ditto, etc., diction, 
dictionary, condition, addict, contradict, inter- 
dict, predict, addiction, contradiction, indiction, 
prediction, etc., benediction = benison, maledic- 
tion = malison, valediction, etc. ; from the freq. 
dictdre, E. dictate, ditty, dight, indict, indite, 
etc.; from dfcdre, E. abdicate, dedicate, indicate, 
predicate, preach, predicament, etc., index, judge, 
indicate, adjudicate, etc. ; from the Gr. itiicvvvai, 
E. deictic, apodictic, apodixis, etc.] 1. Expres- 
sion of ideas by words; manner of saying; 
choice or selection of words; style. 
It is the imperishable diction, the language of Slink- 
speare before Shakspeare wrote, which diffuses its enchant- 
ment over the "Arcadia." 
/. D'lxraeli, Amen, of Lit., II. 105. 
His command of language was immense. With him 
died the secret of the old poetical diction of England 
the art of producing rich effects by familiar words. 
Macaulay, Dryden. 
Nothing but the charm of narrative had saved Ariosto, 
as Tasso had been saved by his diction, and Milton by his 
style. Lowell, fielding. 
2f. A word. 
In dictions are first to be considered their etymology 
and conjugation. Burgersdicius, tr. by a Gentleman. 
= Syn. Diction, Phraseology, Style. Diction refers chiefly 
to the choice of words in any utterance or composition. 
Phraseology refers more to the manner of combining the 
words into phrases, clauses, and sentences : as, legal 
phraseology; but it also necessarily involves diction to 
some extent. Style covers both and more, referring not 
only to the words and the manner in which they are com- 
bined, but to everything that relates to the form in which 
thought is expressed, including peculiarities more or less 
personal to the writer or speaker. 
The book of Job, Indeed, in conduct and diction, bears 
a considerable resemblance to some of his [Milton's] 
dramas. Macaulay, Milton. 
The Book of Sophisms [In Aristotle's "Orgauon"] . . . 
still supplies a very convenient phraseology for marking 
concisely some of the principal fallacies which are apt to 
impose on the untU-rstantliiix' '" tin' heat of a viva voce 
dispute. D. Stewart, The Human Mind, II. ill. 3. 
The genius of the great poet seeks repose in the expres- 
sion of itself, and finds it at last in style, which is the estab- 
lishment of a prrii vi mutual understanding between the 
worker and his material. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 1st ser., p. 181. 
Muted, Idiom, etc. See language. 
dictionarian (dik-sho-na'ri-an), n. [< dirtion- 
iiri/ + -.] The compiler of a dictionary; a 
lexicographer. Itavaton. [Bare.] 
dictionary (dik'shou-a-ri), n. and a. [= F. die- 
tionuaire (> G. dict'ionAr = Sw. diktiondr = Dan. 
diktioncer) = Sp. Pg. diccionario = It. dizionario, 
< ML. dictionarium, neut., also dictionantis, m. 
(so. L. liber, book), lit. a word-book, < LL. dic- 
tio(n-), a word : see diction. First used, it is 
said, by Joannes de Garlandia (died about A. D. 
1250), the compiler of a dictionarius, a classified 
list of words. Exactly equiv. in etymological 
meaning are vocabulary, lexicon, and word-book.] 
I. n. ; pi. dictionaries (-riz). A book containing 
either all or the principal words of a language, 
or words of one or more specified classes, ar- 
ranged in a stated order, usually alphabetical, 
with definitions or explanations of their mean- 
ings and other information concerning them, 
expressed either in the same or in another lan- 
guage ; a word-book ; a lexicon ; a vocabulary : 
as, an English dictionary; a Greek and Latin 
dictionary'; a French-English or an English- 
French dictionary. In the original and most usual 
1003 
sense a dictionary Is chiefly linimistlc and literary con- 
tnhiintf all the common words of the langnm.'!- ith infor- 
mation a* to their meanings and uses. In addition to defl- 
iiitiims, the larger dictionaries include etymologies, pro- 
nuncintioii. and variations of spellini', together with illn*. 
trative citations, more or less explanatory information, 
etc. Special or technical dictionaries supply information 
on a single subject or branch of a subject : as, a diction- 
ary of medicine or of mechanics; a biographical diction- 
ary. A dictionary of geography is usually called a gazet- 
teer. 
What speech esteem you most? The king's, said I. 
But the beet words? O, Sir, the dictimuin. 
Pope, Donne Versified, Iv. 
The niultipliration and improvement of dictionaries is 
a matter especially Important to the general comprehen- 
sion of English. O. P. Xargh, Lects. on Eng. Lang., xxi. 
= Syn. Glossary, Lexicon, etc. See rocatmlary. 
II. o. Pertaining to or contained in a dic- 
tionary. 
The word having acquired in common usage a vituper- 
ative connotation in addition to its dictionary meaning. 
J. S. Mill, Logic, v. 7. 
dictum (dik'tum), n.; pi. dicta (-ta). [= F. 
dictum = Sw. dictum, < L. dictum, something 
said, a word, a witty saying, a proverb, an 
order, neut. of dictus, pp. of dicere, say: see 
diction. In older E. form diet, q. v.] 1. A 
positive or judicial assertion ; an authoritative 
saying. 
Critical dicta everywhere current. M. Arnold. 
In spite of Dr. Johnson's dictum, poetry is not prose, 
and . . . verse only loses its advantage over the latter by 
invading its province. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 180. 
The authoritative Native treatises on law are so vague 
that, from many of the dicta embodied by them, almost 
any conclusion can be drawn. 
Maine, Village Communities, App., p. 393. 
There is no error in maintaining that the voice Is given 
us for speech, if only we do not proceed to draw from such 
a dictum false conclusions as to the relation between 
thought and utterance. 
Whitney, Encyc. Brit., XVIII. 767. 
2. In law, an opinion of a judge which does 
not embody the resolution or determination of 
the court, and is made without argument, or 
full consideration of the point, and is not the 
professed deliberate determination of the judge 
himself. Chief-Justice Folger. 3. In logic, that 
part of a modal proposition which consists of 
the proposition to which the modality is ap- 
plied. 
It is necessary that God be good. The dictum is that 
Ood be good, the mode, necessary. 
Burgersdicius, tr. by a Gentleman. 
Dictum de omul et de nullo (concerning every and 
none), the rule of direct syllogism that if all A is B and 
all B is C, then all A is C. Some logicians render this as 
comprising two dicta : the dictum de omni, that whatever 
is true of all is true of each, and the dictum de nullo, that 
whatever is true of none is false of each. The canon is 
given by Aristotle. Dictum Of Kenilworth, an award 
designed for the pacification of the kingdom, made Iwtween 
King Henry III. of England and Parliament in 1266, dur- 
ing the siege of Kenilworth. It is published among the 
statutes of the realm, 1. 12. Dictum simpliciter. See 
simpliciter. Obiter dicta, legal dicta (del. 2) uttered by 
the way (obiter), not upon the point or question pending, 
as if turning aside for the time from the main topic of the 
case to collateral subjects. - Syn. 1. Aphoritm, Axiom, 
Maxim, etc. See aphorism. 
Dictyocysta (dik'ti-o-sis'ta), n. [NL., < Gr. 
<5iKTvov, a net, + KVOTIC, bladder.] The typical 
genus of Dictyocystida;, containing pelagic free- 
swimming animalcules with a fenestrated sili- 
cious lorica and tentaculiform cilia. D. cassis 
and D. elegans are examples. Ehrenberg. 
Dictyocystidae (dik'ti-o-sis'ti-de), n. pi. [NL., 
< IHctyocysta + -idee.] A group of free marine 
peritrichous infusorians, having a bell-shaped 
body protected by a cancellated silicious test, 
and a circular oval collar with many long flagel- 
liform cilia. Also Dictyocystida. Saeckel, 1873. 
dlctyogen (dik'ti-o-jen), n. [< Gr. HKTVOV, a 
net, + -yevr/s, producing : see -pen.] A member 
of a division of plants proposed by Lindley to 
include such endogenous genera as have net- 
veined leaves. They belong chiefly to the Di- 
ii.^i-iiriacece and to some tribes of the Liliacew. 
dictyogenons (dik-ti-oj'e-nus), a. [< dictyogen 
+ -ous.~\ In bot., having the character of a 
dictyogen ; having the general character of an 
endogen, but with netted leaf-veins. 
Dictyograptus (dikti-o-grap'tus), n. [NL., < 
Gr. StdTvov, a net, + NL. Graptus.] A genus of 
widely distributed and important fossils, origi- 
nally described by Eichwald under the name of 
Gorgonia flnbclliformis, and later by Hall under 
that of Itictyonema, and by him at that time 
(1852) considered to be corals, having a struc- 
ture similar to that of Fenestella. Later the name 
Dietyograptiu was substituted for Dictyonema. This fos- 
sil has been considered by some as a plant, but is now re- 
ferred to the graptolites, from which it differs but slight- 
ly, if at all. Dictyoyraptux is "one of the most charac- 
dlctyoxylon 
terlstlc fossils of the primordial zone of Scandinavia" 
(frY/A-iV), and is found in many localities in the shales of 
tin- Niagara group, from Rochester to the Niagara river. 
dictyonal (dik'ti-o-nal), a. [As dictyon-inc + 
-nL ] Same as di<-lii<>nnn-. 
Dictyonema (dik*ti-o-ne'ma), n. [NL., < (Jr. 
6inTvm>, a net, + vi^ia, a thread. J Ser 
. 
Dictyonina (dik'ti-o-ni'na), n. pi. [NL. (Zit- 
tel), < Gr. otKTvov, a net, + ' -ina'*7] A suborder 
of In Mii-t iiid I ii I silicious sponges, whose paren- 
chyinal hexacts unite in a regular firm skele- 
ton: contrasted with Lyssacina. The families Far- 
reida, Eurdida, Mcllitionida, Coxinaporidee, Tretodictyi- 
dtr, and Jteandrospimgidtf compose the suborder. 
dictyonine (dik'ti-o-nin), a. Of or pertaining 
to the IHctymtina. ' Also dictyonal. 
Dictyophora (dik-ti-of'o-rS), . [NL., < Gr. 
tiKT-wv, a net, -f -^ipof , < fcpt \v = E. bear 1 .] The 
typical genus of Dictyophorida. Gerniar, 1833. 
Dictyopnorida (dik'ti-6-for'i-dft), . pi. [NL., 
< Dtctyoyhora + -ida.] A subfamily of Fulgo- 
ridte, or other group of hemipterous insects, 
typified by the genus I)ictyo]>hora. As a sub- 
family the regular form would be Dictyophori- 
we. Also Dictyophoridte. 
Dictyophyllum (dik'ti-o-fil'um), n. [NL., < 
Gr. SIKTVOV, net, + ^MAov = L. folium, leaf.] A 
genus of fossil ferns established by Lindley 
and Huttpn, remarkable for its double system 
of nervation, consisting of a system of larger 
meshes inclosing another system of smaller 
ones, the whole bearing considerable resem- 
blance to leaves of dicotyledonous plants. 
Hence some fossil leaves really belonging to the dicoty- 
ledons have, probably by mistake, been referred to this 
genus. Some authors are at present Inclined to regard 
Dictyophyllum as a convenient name under which to place 
the description of fragments of doubtful character con- 
sidered as belonging to the ferns. See Idutpbyllum and 
Phytlites. 
Dictyophyton (dik-ti-of 'i-ton), n. [NL., < 
Gr. O'MTVOV^ net, + <j>vr6v, a plant.] The name 
given by Hall to a genus of remarkable fos- 
sils of obscure affinities, which have been com- 
pared with algae of the family Dictyoteae. it is 
also considered as being closely related to, or identical 
with, the genus Uphantoenia of Vanuxem. The latter ge- 
nus exhibits itself in the form of circular or flabellate 
fronds, made up of ligulate, radiating, and concentric 
bands or striae, which have the appearance of being inter- 
woven like basketwork. With these flabellate forms are 
associated others which are conical or cylindrical, marked 
externally by cross striae which divide the surface into 
rectangular spaces, and sometimes covered with long tu- 
bercles arranged in vertical and transverse rows. These 
latter forms are those which Ball included under the ge- 
neric name of Dictyophyton. They are found in the Che- 
mung group (Devonian) in New York, and in the Waverly 
group (Lower Carboniferous) of Ohio. 
Dictyoptera (dik-ti-op'te-ra), n. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. 6'ucrvov, a net. + m-fpov, a wing.] A group 
of cursorial orthopterous insects, the cock- 
roaches, Blattidte or Blattina, elevated to the 
rank of an order. Leach ; Burmeister. 
Dictyopterls (dik-ti-op'te-ris), n. [NL.,< Gr. ii- 
KTVOV, a net, + vrepic, a fern.] The name given 
by Gutbier to a 
genus of fossil 
ferns closely re- 
sembling jVeu- 
rop(eri,but dif- 
fering from that 
genus by its re- 
ticulate nerva- 
tion. It is abun- 
dant in the coal- 
measures of 
Europe and the 
United States. 
Dictyopyge 
(dik'tl-O-pi'je), 
n rNT', < dr 
n. U'-L 1 ') x w 
OIKTVOV, a net, 
Leaf of Dictyoftcrh Krangniarli. and 
portion of same on larger scale. (From 
WeissV Flora derStcinkohlenlbrmation.") 
, 
, buttocks.] A genus of Triassic ganoid 
fishes, remains of which occur in the coal-fields 
of Virginia : so called from the reticulated ap- 
pearance of the large anal fin. Lyell, 1847. 
Dictyotacea (dik'ti-6-ta'sfe), n. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. tucrvurAf, netted, latticed (< fixrvov, a net), 
+ -ocere.] An order of olive-brown algw with 
expanded membranous fronds, in their reproduc- 
tive characters they are intermediate between the Fl&ri- 
detf on the one hand and the Fucacece and Phceosporea? on 
the other. 
Dictyoteae (dik-ti-6'te-e), . pi. [NL., < Gr. 
iiKTvurof, netted, latticed, + -ete. See Dictyo- 
taceoe.'] Same as Dictyotacete. 
dictyoxylon (dik-ti-ok'gi-lon). n. [NL., < Gr. 
S'IKTVOV, a net, + ft'/oi>, wood.] The name given 
by Brongniart to a variety of fossil wood oc- 
curring in the coal-measures of Europe, and 
considered to be closely allied to Siyillaria. 
