What does deixis mean?
Definitions for deixis
deix·is
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word deixis.
Princeton's WordNet
deixisnoun
the function of pointing or specifying from the perspective of a participant in an act of speech or writing; aspects of a communication whose interpretation depends on knowledge of the context in which the communication occurs
Wiktionary
deixisnoun
A reference within a sentence that relies on the context being known to interpret correctly.
The use of pronouns relies on a deixis to correctly interpret them.
Etymology: From δείξις, from δείκνυμι.
ChatGPT
deixis
Deixis is a linguistic term that refers to words or phrases (such as 'this', 'that', 'here', 'there', 'now', 'then', etc.) that are context-dependent and whose meanings change based on the circumstances or the speaker’s and listener’s shared knowledge. These words require additional information to fully understand their reference. The term is derived from the Greek word 'deiktikos', meaning 'able to show or point out.'
Wikidata
Deixis
In linguistics, deixis refers to the phenomenon wherein understanding the meaning of certain words and phrases in an utterance requires contextual information. Words are deictic if their semantic meaning is fixed but their denotational meaning varies depending on time and/or place. Words or phrases that require contextual information to convey any meaning – for example, English pronouns – are deictic. Deixis is closely related to anaphora, as will be further explained below. Although this article deals primarily with deixis in spoken language, the concept can apply to written language, gestures, and communication media as well. While this article draws examples primarily from English, deixis is believed to be a feature of all natural languages. The term’s origin is Ancient Greek: δείξις deixis "display, demonstration, or reference", the meaning point of reference in contemporary linguistics having been taken over from Chrysippus.
Matched Categories
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
- [["1892","1"],["1898","2"],["1906","1"],["1910","3"],["1914","10"],["1941","3"],["1945","3"],["1947","2"],["1948","1"],["1949","6"],["1950","3"],["1951","4"],["1953","48"],["1954","27"],["1955","3"],["1956","1"],["1957","5"],["1959","12"],["1960","1"],["1961","20"],["1962","18"],["1963","22"],["1964","10"],["1965","11"],["1966","19"],["1967","37"],["1968","76"],["1969","19"],["1970","136"],["1971","72"],["1972","93"],["1973","209"],["1974","211"],["1975","374"],["1976","314"],["1977","442"],["1978","549"],["1979","549"],["1980","746"],["1981","546"],["1982","1154"],["1983","1340"],["1984","646"],["1985","993"],["1986","1297"],["1987","889"],["1988","1206"],["1989","1100"],["1990","2621"],["1991","1317"],["1992","1870"],["1993","1575"],["1994","1450"],["1995","2107"],["1996","2083"],["1997","1382"],["1998","1826"],["1999","1745"],["2000","2903"],["2001","1763"],["2002","2478"],["2003","2043"],["2004","2893"],["2005","2945"],["2006","2466"],["2007","3074"],["2008","1698"]]
Anagrams for deixis »
dixies
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of deixis in Chaldean Numerology is: 1
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of deixis in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7
Translations for deixis
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- дейксисRussian
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"deixis." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 8 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/deixis>.
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