Etymology

dictionaryese

dic·tion·a·ry·ese
D2I1C3T1I1O1N1A1R1Y4E1S1E1

Today it means: The style of language used in dictionary definitions, characterized by dry, straightforward, and occasionally awkward phrasing. Full definition →

English dictionary ← Middle English dixionare ← Medieval Latin dictiōnārium
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*deyḱ-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*déyḱeti
  3. Proto-Italic*deikō
  4. Latindīcō
  5. Latindictiō
  6. Latindictiōnārius?
  7. Medieval Latindictiōnārium
  8. Middle Englishdixionare
  9. Englishdictionary
  10. English todaydictionaryese

From dictionary + -ese (suffix denoting jargon used in a particular context).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.