diptych
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
English
Etymology
From Late Latin diptycha, plural, from Ancient Greek, neuter plural of δίπτυχος (díptukhos, “folded, doubled”), from δι- (di-) + πτυχή (ptukhḗ, “fold, layer”).
Pronunciation
Noun
diptych (plural diptychs)
- A writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material connected by hinges and shutting together so as to protect the writing within.
- (art) A picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets, usually connected by hinges.
- (Christianity) A double catalogue, containing in one part the names of living, and in the other of deceased, ecclesiastics and benefactors of a church.
- (Christianity) A catalogue of saints.
- (historical, Ancient Rome) 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.
- A novel published in two volumes forming one continuous story (as opposed to a duology or dilogy).
- A literary work consisting of two contrasting parts, such as a narrative telling the same story from two opposing points of view.
- 1942, François Closset, “Review of Bejegegning van Christus by G. Walschap”, in Books Abroad, volume 16, number 2, →JSTOR, page 202:
- 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.
- (transferred sense) Any work made up of two parts treating complementary or contrasting aspects of one general topic.
- 1954, Frank E. Egler, “Forrest Shreve and the Sonoran Desert”, in Geographical Review, volume 44, number 1, →JSTOR, page 138:
- “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.
Hypernyms
- (art): polyptych
Related terms
Translations
writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material
picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
|
double catalogue of ecclesiastics and benefactors of the church
tablets distributed by consuls
Categories:
- English terms borrowed from Late Latin
- English terms derived from Late Latin
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio pronunciation
- Rhymes:English/ɪptɪk
- Rhymes:English/ɪptɪk/2 syllables
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Art
- en:Christianity
- English terms with historical senses
- en:Ancient Rome
- English terms with transferred senses
- English terms with quotations
- en:Two