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semiotics

[see-mee-ot-iks, sem-ee-, see-mahy-] Example Sentences Origin

se·mi·ot·ics

[see-mee-ot-iks, sem-ee-, see-mahy-]
noun (used with a singular verb)
1.
the study of signs and symbols as elements of communicative behavior; the analysis of systems of communication, as language, gestures, or clothing.
2.
a general theory of signs and symbolism, usually divided into the branches of pragmatics, semantics, and syntactics.

Origin:
1875–80; see semiotic, -ics

se·mi·o·ti·cian [see-mee-uh-tish-uhn, sem-ee-, see-mahy-] , noun

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Semiotics is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
Example Sentences
  • Such visual semiotics are not limited to the human race.
  • We need to change-to resignify-the semiotics of academic culture.
  • Man, the semiotics of this piece are something else.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged

se·mi·ot·ic

[see-mee-ot-ik, sem-ee, see-mahy-]
adjective Also, se·mi·ot·i·cal.
1.
of or pertaining to signs.
2.
of or pertaining to semiotics.
3.
Medicine/Medical. of or pertaining to symptoms; symptomatic.
noun

Origin:
1615–20; (def. 3) < Greek sēmeiōtikós significant, equivalent to sēmeiō-, verbid stem of sēmeioûn to interpret as a sign (derivative of Greek sēmeîon sign) + -tikos -tic; (def. 4) < Greek sēmeiōtikḗ, noun use of feminine of sēmeiōtikós, adapted by John Locke (on the model of Greek logikḗ logic, etc.; see -ic) to mean “the doctrine of signs”; (defs. 1, 2) based on Locke's coinage or a reanalysis of the Gk word
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To semiotics
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World English Dictionary
semiotics or semeiotics (ˌsɛmɪˈɒtɪks, ˌsiːmɪ-, ˌsɛmɪˈɒtɪks, ˌsiːmɪ-)
 
n
1.  semantics syntactics See also pragmatics the study of signs and symbols, esp the relations between written or spoken signs and their referents in the physical world or the world of ideas
2.  the scientific study of the symptoms of disease; symptomatology
 
semeiotics or semeiotics
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin & History

semiotics
study of signs and symbols with special regard to function and origin, 1880, from Gk. semeiotikos "observant of signs," adj. form of semeiosis "indication," from semeioun "to signal," from sema "sign."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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