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Dialect - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Dialect : (noun)
1: the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific
group of people; "the immigrants spoke an odd dialect of
English"; "he has a strong German accent" [syn: idiom,
accent]
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Dialect : \Di"a*lect\, n. [F. dialecte, L. dialectus, fr. Gr. ?,
fr. ? to converse, discourse. See Dialogue.]
1. Means or mode of expressing thoughts; language; tongue;
form of speech.
This book is writ in such a dialect As may the minds
of listless men affect. Bunyan. The universal
dialect of the world. --South.
2. The form of speech of a limited region or people, as
distinguished from ether forms nearly related to it; a
variety or subdivision of a language; speech characterized
by local peculiarities or specific circumstances; as, the
Ionic and Attic were dialects of Greece; the Yorkshire
dialect; the dialect of the learned.
In the midst of this Babel of dialects there
suddenly appeared a standard English language.
--Earle.
[Charles V.] could address his subjects from every
quarter in their native dialect. --Prescott.
Syn: Language; idiom; tongue; speech; phraseology. See
Language, and Idiom.
Based on WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003)
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