Dic"tion*a*ry (?), n.; pl. Dictionaries (#). [Cf. F. dictionnaire. See Diction.] 1. A book containing the words of a language, arranged alphabetically, with explanations of their meanings; a lexicon; a vocabulary; a wordbook.
I applied myself to the perusal of our writers; and noting whatever might be of use to ascertain or illustrate any word or phrase, accumulated in time the materials of a dictionary.
Johnson.
2. Hence, a book containing the words belonging to any system or province of knowledge, arranged alphabetically; as, a dictionary of medicine or of botany; a biographical dictionary.
||Dic"tum (?), n.; pl. L. Dicta (#), E. Dictums (#). [L., neuter of dictus, p. p. of dicere to say. See Diction, and cf. Ditto.] 1. An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; an apothegm.
A class of critical dicta everywhere current.