didactic

views updated May 23 2018

di·dac·tic / dīˈdaktik/ • adj. intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive: a didactic novel that set out to expose social injustice. ∎  in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to treat someone in a patronizing way: slow-paced, didactic lecturing.DERIVATIVES: di·dac·ti·cal·ly / -ik(ə)lē/ adv.di·dac·ti·cism / -təˌsizəm/ n.ORIGIN: mid 17th cent.: from Greek didaktikos, from didaskein ‘teach.’

didactic

views updated May 29 2018

didactic XVII. — Gr. didaktikós, f. stem didak- of didáskein teach; see -IC.