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dichotomy

Meanings
  • noun

    The act or process of dividing something into two parts or categories, especially when these are opposed or incongruous.

    - "The debate presented a clear dichotomy between those who supported the new policy and those who opposed it."
    - "The novel explores the dichotomy between good and evil."
Pronunciation




  1. Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75730200"




  2. Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1511645"
Synonyms

partition , trichotomy
Variants
List of all variants of dichotomy that leads to same result
dichotomies , dichotomy
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Greek word 'dichotomia' meaning 'a cutting in two'.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. The term 'dichotomy' first appeared in English in the 16th century.

  2. The Greek philosopher Aristotle is credited with coining the term 'dichotomy' in his work 'On Interpretation'.

  3. Dichotomy is a common theme in many philosophical and religious texts, including the Bible and the works of Plato and Descartes.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. Oxymoron: An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms, such as 'jumbo shrimp' or 'deafening silence'. Dichotomy and oxymoron are related concepts, as both involve the exploration of contrasting ideas.

  2. Binary Opposition: Binary opposition is a concept in semiotics and linguistics that refers to the opposition of two concepts or ideas. Dichotomy can be seen as a more complex form of binary opposition, as it involves the actual division of something into two parts.

Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities

  1. … the Inuit concept of their environment was centred around the "dichotomy" between land and sea.

    - Ian Hodder,{it}Reading the Past{/it},1986

  2. … to insist on its being either symbol or fact is to dwell needlessly on a false "dichotomy".

    - Simon Schama,{it}The Embarrassment of Riches{/it},1988

  3. At the close of this millennium, the favored "dichotomy" features a supposed battle called "the science wars."

    - Stephen Jay Gould,{it}Science{/it},14 Jan. 2000

  4. The amusing spectacle of the recent presidential vote in Florida should remind us of the persistence of the federal-state "dichotomy".

    - Eugene Genovese,{it}Atlantic{/it},March 2001
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, dichotomy is often used to explore complex themes and character development. For instance, in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby', the dichotomy between the American Dream and reality is a central theme.

How to Memorize "dichotomy"

  1. visualize

    - Imagine a line being drawn through the middle of an object or idea, separating it into two distinct parts.
    - Visualize the contrasting ideas or categories as two sides of a coin.

  2. associate

    - Associate dichotomy with the image of a yin and yang symbol, representing the balance between opposing forces.
    - Think of dichotomy as a seesaw, with one idea or category going up as the other goes down.

  3. mnemonics

    - Use the acronym 'DICHOTOMY' to remember the definition: 'Division Into Contrasting Halves Opposite Each Other, Making Two'.
    - Create a mnemonic sentence, such as 'Donkeys In Charge Of Transporting Oranges Make Terrible Owners Yielding'. This sentence uses the first letter of each word to represent the letters in dichotomy, while the rest of the sentence helps to remember the definition.

Memorize "dichotomy" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize dichotomy is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

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