lexicon

English

Etymology

Through Middle French or directly from New Latin lexicon, from Byzantine Greek λεξικόν (lexikón, “a lexicon, a dictionary”), ellipsis from Ancient Greek λεξικὸν βιβλίον (lexikòn biblíon, literally “a book of words”), from λεξικός (lexikós, “of words”), from λέξις (léxis, “a saying, speech, word”), from λέγω (légō, “to speak”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (“to gather, collect”).

Attested at least since 1583 (in William Fulke's A Defense of the Sincere and True Translations of the Holy Scriptures into the English tongue) in the sense 'a dictionary of a classical language'.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈlɛk.sɪ.kən/
• (US) enPR: lĕ'ksĭkŏn, IPA^(key): /ˈlɛk.sɪ.kɑn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

lexicon (plural lexica or lexicons)

1. The vocabulary of a language.

   Synonyms: word-hoard, word-stock

   • Vocabulary definition

     A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning. (1 of 5 vocabulary definitions)

   • Language definition

     A body of words, and set of methods of combining them (called a grammar), understood by a community and used as a form of communication. (1 of 9 language definitions)

   • Word-Hoard definition

     Vocabulary; the totality of words of a language or a person.

   • Word-Stock definition

     The vocabulary (set of words) of a language or dialect
2. (linguistics) A dictionary that includes or focuses on lexemes.

   Synonym: wordbook

   • Linguistics definition

     The scientific study of language.

   • Dictionary definition

     A reference work with a list of words from one or more languages, normally ordered alphabetically, explaining each word's meaning, and sometimes containing information on its etymology, pronunciation, usage, translations, and other data. (1 of 4 dictionary definitions)

   • Lexeme definition

     A unit of lexical meaning, roughly corresponding to the set of inflected forms taken by a single word, so for example the lexeme run includes as members "run" (lemma), "running" (inflected form), and "ran", but excludes "runner" (a derived term). (1 of 2 lexeme definitions)

   • Wordbook definition

     A dictionary or other reference book that lists words; a lexicon, vocabulary. (1 of 2 wordbook definitions)
3. A dictionary of Classical Greek, Hebrew, Latin, or Aramaic.

   • Greek definition

     The language of the Greek people, spoken in Greece, Cyprus and other Greek communities. (1 of 3 Greek definitions)

   • Hebrew definition

     Of or pertaining to the Hebrew people or language.

   • Latin definition

     Of or relating to the language spoken in ancient Rome and other cities of Latium which is rarely used. (1 of 7 Latin definitions)

   • Aramaic definition

     A subfamily of languages in the Northwest Semitic language group including (but not limited to):

     1. The language of the Aramaeans from the tenth century BC: often called Old Aramaic.
     2. The language of the administration in the Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian empires from the seventh to fourth centuries BC: often called Imperial Aramaic or Official Aramaic.
     3. The language of portions of the Hebrew Bible, mainly the books of Ezra and Daniel: often called Biblical Aramaic.
     4. The language of Jesus of Nazareth: a form of Jewish Palestinian Aramaic or Galilean Aramaic.
     5. The language of Jewish targums, Midrash and the Talmuds, Jewish Babylonian Aramaic.
     6. The liturgical language of various Christian churches: often called Syriac.
     7. The liturgical language of the Mandaeans: usually called Mandaic.
     8. Any language of this family today called Neo-Aramaic, and separated by religion also Judeo-Aramaic and Syriac

     (1 of 9 Aramaic definitions)
4. (programming) The lexicology of a programming language. (Usually called lexical structure.)

   • Programming definition

     The designing, scheduling or planning of a radio or television program/programme. (1 of 4 programming definitions)

   • Lexicology definition

     The part of linguistics that studies words, their nature and meaning, words' elements, relations between words including semantic relations, words groups and the whole lexicon. (1 of 2 lexicology definitions)

   • Programming Language definition

     Code of reserved words and symbols used in computer programs, which give instructions to the computer on how to accomplish certain computing tasks.
5. (rare) Any dictionary.
6. The vocabulary used by or known to an individual. (Also called lexical knowledge)

   • Know definition

     To perceive the truth or factuality of; to be certain of or that. (1 of 12 know definitions)
7. A vocabulary specific to a certain subject.

   a baseball lexicon

Related terms

• lexical
• lexicography
• lexicology
• lexiconophilia
• lexiconophilist

Translations

Further reading

• lexicon in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• lexicon in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911.

Dutch

Etymology

From New Latin lexicon, from Ancient Greek λεξικόν (lexikón, “a lexicon”), neuter of λεξικός (lexikós, “of words”).

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: lexi‧con

Noun

lexicon n (plural lexicons or lexica, diminutive lexiconnetje n)

1. (clarification of this definition is needed) lexicon

   • Lexicon definition

     The vocabulary of a language. (1 of 7 lexicon definitions)

Further reading

• lexicon on the Dutch Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^nl

Latin

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Byzantine Greek λεξικόν (lexikón, “a lexicon”), which is an ellipsis from Ancient Greek λεξικὸν βιβλίον (lexikòn biblíon, literally “a book of words”), from λεξικός (lexikós, “of words”), from λέξις (léxis, “a saying, speech, word”), from λέγω (légō, “to speak”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (“to gather, collect”).

Attested at least since Girolamo Aleandro's Lexicon graeco-latinum, multis et praeclaris additionibus locupletatum (1512).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈlek.si.kon/, [ˈlɛk.sɪ.kɔn]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈlek.si.kon/, [ˈlɛk.si.kɔn]

Noun

lexicon n (genitive lexicī); second declension

1. (New Latin) a dictionary, a lexicon

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter, Greek-type).

Descendants

• → Dutch: lexicon m
• → German: Lexikon, Lexicon
  • → Czech: lexikon
  • → Hungarian: lexikon (“encyclopedia”)
  • → Swedish: lexikon
• → Middle French: lexicon m
  • French: lexique m
  • → English: lexicon (possibly; or directly from Latin)

References

• lexicon in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• lexicon in Ramminger, Johann (accessed 16 July 2016) Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎^[1], pre-publication website, 2005-2016