dialectician
English
Alternative forms
- dialecticiane, dialectisiane, dialectitian (obsolete)
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˌdʌɪəlɛkˈtɪʃn/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˌdaɪəlɛkˈtɪʃn/, /ˌdaɪəlɛkˈtɪʃən/
Etymology 1
From French dialecticien (“one skillful in dialectic”), from Latin dialecticus (“dialectic”) + French -ien (“-ian”) from Latin -ianus (“-ian”). Equivalent to dialectic + -ian.
Noun
dialectician (plural dialecticians)
- (chiefly historical) Someone skilled in dialectics: someone able to arrive at logical conclusions through reasoned argument. [1560]
- (Hegelianism) Someone skilled in dialectical idealism: someone able to arrive at historical conclusions through consideration of contradictions. [1871]
- (Marxism) Someone skilled in dialectical materialism: someone able to arrive at socio-political conclusions through consideration of class differences.
Hypernyms
- (one skilled at dialectic reasoning): logician, reasoner, debater
- (one skilled in dialectical idealism): Hegelian
- (one skilled in dialectical materialism): Marxist, Communist
Etymology 2
From dialectic (“dialectical”) + -ian.
Noun
dialectician (plural dialecticians)
- Someone knowledgable about dialects. [1848]
Synonyms
- dialectologist
Hypernyms
- linguist, orthoepist
References
- dialectician in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- “dialectician, n.”, in OED Online
