Dichotic
/daɪˈkɒtɪk/noun
Relating to dichotomy or division into two parts; in psychology, relating to the presentation of different stimuli to each ear.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek *dikho-* meaning “in two,” the same ancient split behind words like dichotomy and even the eerie sense of things being divided into opposing halves.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
dikhotomos
“cut in two, divided into two parts”
Late Greek
Greek
dikhotomia
“a cutting in two; division into two parts”
17th Century
English
dichotomy
“division into two parts or classes”
19th Century
English
dichotic
“relating to division into two; later, presented separately to each ear”
Modern English
English
dichotic
“relating to dichotomy or to the separate presentation of different sounds to each ear”
Explore more surprising origins