Etymology Dictionary

DICTION,  manner of discourse.  (F.,—L.)   In Shak. Haml. v. 2. 123.—F. diction, 'a diction, speech, or saying;' Cot.—Lat. acc. dictionem, from nom. dictio, a saying, speech.—Lat. dictus, pp. of dicere, to say, also, to appoint; from the same root as dicare, to tell, publish. + Gk. δείκνυμι, I shew, point out. + Skt. diç, to shew, produce. + Goth. ga-teihan, to tell, announce. + G. zeihen, to accuse; zeigen, to point out.—✔DIK, to shew, point out; see Didactic.   See Curtius, i. 165; Fick, i. 103.  Der. diction-ary; also dictum (neut. sing. of Lat. pp. dictus), pl. dicta; and see ditto.  Hence also bene-diction, benison, male-diction, malison, contra-diction, &c.  From the same root are indicate, indict, index, avenge, judge, preech, &c. [†]