Dictionnaire
/dik.sjɔ.nɛʁ/noun
A French word meaning dictionary: a reference book or digital resource explaining words and their meanings.
Did you know?Dictionnaire ultimately descends from Latin dictio, “a saying” or “expression,” from dicere, “to say,” the same root behind dictate, verdict, and predict.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*deyḱ-
“To point out, show, or indicate—a root associated with making something known.”
Classical Latin
Latin
dīcere
“To say, speak, or declare.”
Classical Latin
Latin
dictiō
“A saying, expression, or manner of speaking.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
dictiōnārium
“A collection or repertory of words; formed from dictio with the suffix -arium.”
16th Century
French
dictionnaire
“A French reference work listing and explaining words.”
Modern French
French
dictionnaire
“Dictionary; a book or digital resource defining and describing words.”