| 释义 |
diction|ˈdɪkʃən|
[a. F. diction (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), or ad. L. dictiōn-em saying, diction, mode of expression; in late L., a word; n. of action from dīcĕre to say.
Apparently not in English Dictionaries before Johnson.]
†1. A word. Obs.
1542Udall Erasm. Apophth. i. (1877) 136 Two sondrie wordes, albeit by reason of the figure called Synalephe, it seemeth in maner no more but one diction. 1549Compl. Scot. Prol. 17 The quhilkis culd nocht be translatit in oure Scottis langage, as.. pretours, tribuns, and mony vthir romane dictions. 1652Gaule Magastrom. L iv a, Dictions, syllables, letters, numbers. 1697tr. Burgersdicius his Logick i. xxv. 99 In Dictions are first to be consider'd their Etymology and Conjugation, and then their Synonymy and Homonymy, and Acception Words.
†2. A phrase, locution, mode of speech. Obs.
a1660Hammond Wks. I. 425 (R.) We are not wont to require the dictions of the New Testament..to be tryed by Attical heathen Greek writers. 1709Steele Tatler No. 62 ⁋7 An easy Flow of Words, without being distracted (as we often are who read much) in the choice of Dictions and Phrases.
†3. Expression of ideas in words; speech; verbal description. Obs.
(In Shakespeare in an intentionally Euphuistic passage.)
1581Sidney Apol. Poetrie (Arb.) 68 Now, for the out-side of it..which is words, or..Diction. 1602Shakes. Ham. v. ii. 123 To make true diction of him, his semblable is his mirror.
4. The manner in which anything is expressed in words; choice or selection of words and phrases; wording; verbal style:
a. of writings.
1700Dryden Fables Pref. (Globe) 496 The first beauty of an Epick poem consists in diction, that is, in the choice of words and harmony of numbers. 1709Pope Let. to Cromwell 7 May, It would be very kind in you to observe any deficiencies in the diction or numbers [of my translation]. 1791Boswell Johnson (1816) I. 201 Sir Thomas Brown..was remarkably fond of Anglo-Latin diction. 1827–48Hare Guesses Ser. ii. (1873) 368 Almost all fancy the diction makes the poet. 1868Stanley Westm. Abb. iii. 195 A grace and accuracy of diction worthy of the scholarship for which the exiled chief..was renowned. 1880L. Stephen Pope iii. 69 It is, I think, impossible to maintain that the diction of poetry should be simply that of common life.
b. of speech or oratory.
1748J. Mason Elocut. 5 Elocution: By which they always meant, what we call, Diction; which consists in suiting our Words to our Ideas, and the Stile to the Subject. 1750Johnson Rambler No. 27 ⁋8 The celebrated orator renowned equally for the..elegance of his diction, and the acuteness of his wit. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 134 Tyrconnel..with his usual energy of diction, invoked on himself all the vengeance of heaven if the report was not a cursed, a blasted, a confounded lie. 1886Ruskin Præterita I. vii. 208 My mother..resolved that I should learn absolute accuracy of diction and precision of accent in prose. |