Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

diptych

/ˈdɪptɪk/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.95 in modern English

Syllables: dip-tych
IPA: /ˈdɪptɪk/

18

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material connected by hinges and shutting together so as to protect the writing within.

noun

A picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets, usually connected by hinges.

noun

A double catalogue, containing in one part the names of living, and in the other of deceased, ecclesiastics and benefactors of a church.

noun

A catalogue of saints.

noun

Artistically-wrought tablets distributed by consuls, etc. of the later Roman Empire to commemorate their tenure of office; hence (transferred sense) a list of magistrates.

noun

A novel published in two volumes forming one continuous story (as opposed to a duology or dilogy).

noun

A literary work consisting of two contrasting parts, such as a narrative telling the same story from two opposing points of view.

noun

Any work made up of two parts treating complementary or contrasting aspects of one general topic.

Example Sentences

"A very simple narrative, a diptych, a pastoral in which the author narrates the birth of Christ […] first as it has impressed the rich countryman Asveer, then as it has been seen by the skeptic Nicodemus."
"“Vegetation of the Sonoran Desert” is the first volume of a diptych “Vegetation and Flora of the Sonoran Desert,” for which Ira L. Wiggins is to write the companion volume on the flora."

Etymology

From Late Latin diptycha, plural, from Ancient Greek, neuter plural of δίπτυχος (díptukhos, “folded, doubled”), from δι- (di-) + πτυχή (ptukhḗ, “fold, layer”).

Origin

Source language: Ancient Greek

Word Breakdown

Root: diptycha, -

Inflected Forms

diptychs (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

triptych

Rhymes With

cryptic trip tic triptych ecliptic tryptic styptic glyptic anaglyptic lithotriptic triptyque holocryptic chymotryptic

Questions

How do you pronounce diptych?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdɪptɪk/.
What does diptych mean?: A writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material connected by hinges and shutting together so as to protect the writing within.
Where does diptych come from?: It is traced to Ancient Greek.

How to pronounce diptych

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “diptych”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈdɪptɪk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “diptych”.
Repeat and practice — Say “diptych” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.