dialectic — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Any formal system of reasoning that arrives at a truth by the exchange of logical arguments.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. A contradiction of ideas that serves as the determining factor in their interaction.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   This situation created the inner dialectic of American history.

3. development by way of overcoming internal contradictions

   Usage

   • Marxism
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Adjective

1. Dialectical (of or relating to dialectic)

Adjective

1. Dialectal (of or relating to a dialect).

   Examples

   Is it [prodezza] a mere dialectic variation of prudenza,[…]?

   More examples (3)

   […] if any one has, in common discourse, an indistinct, hesitating, dialectic, or otherwise faulty, delivery, his Natural manner certainly is not what he should adopt in public speaking; […]

   But our able Secretary, Mr. Laidlay, has referred me to another alphabet, dialectic of the Hebrew, as set forth in the interpretation of the bilingual inscription of Thongga (Journal Asiatique, Fevrier, 1843) to which be conceives the characters of this brief specimen may be considered more properly to belong.

   […] we have a theory sufficiently consistent with the remote philological relations traceable between Cymri and Gael, and with the close dialectic affinities between Celtic Scotland and Ireland.

Adjective

1. of or relating to or employing dialectic

   Synonyms

   dialectical

   Examples

   the dialectical method

Noun

1. any formal system of reasoning that arrives at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments

   Broader terms

   philosophy

2. a contradiction of ideas that serves as the determining factor in their interaction

   Broader terms

   contradiction

   Examples

   this situation created the inner dialectic of American history