different between diction vs cacology

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dicti?, dicti?nis, from dictus, past participle of dicere (“to speak”), from Proto-Indo-European *dey?- (“to show, point out”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d?k??n/

• Rhymes: -?k??n

Noun

diction (countable and uncountable, plural dictions)

1. Choice and use of words, especially with regard to effective communication.
2. The effectiveness and degree of clarity of word choice and expression.

Related terms

• dictate
• dictionary

Translations

References

• diction at OneLook Dictionary Search
• diction in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

See also

• enunciation

French

Etymology

From Latin dicti?, dicti?nis, from dictus, past participle of dicere (“to speak”), from Proto-Indo-European *dey?- (“to show, point out”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dik.sj??/

Noun

diction f (plural dictions)

1. diction (clarity of word choice)

Further reading

• “diction” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

caco- +? -logy

Noun

cacology (usually uncountable, plural cacologies)

1. Poor diction or choice of words.
   • 1867 May 25, "Social Siftings", Charles Dickens (editor), All the Year Round, No. 422, p. 526 (Google preview):

     My lord's sayings and doings are most amusing. As I mentioned his cacology, I will give you a sample. His second wife took great pains to improve him, but in vain. When he came here under her tutelage, she watched his words, and always corrected him, even before company. One day, being asked to take some lunch, he declined, saying ‘I have been eating selvedges all day.’ My Lady, correcting, said, ‘Sandwiches, my Lord.’ He replied, ‘Ah, my Lady, I wish you'd be quiet, you're always rebuting me.’

See also

• caconym