What is "deictic"

Deictic \Deic"tic\ (d[imac]k"t[i^]k), a. [Gr. deiktiko`s serving to show or point out, fr. deikny`nai to show.]

1. (Logic) Direct; proving directly; -- applied to reasoning, and opposed to elenchtic or refutative.

2. (Grammar) showing or pointing to directly; pertaining to deixis; -- used to designate words that specify identity, location, or time from the perspective of one of the participants in a discourse, using the surrounding context as reference; as, the words this, that, these, those, here, there, now, then, we, you, they, the former, and the latter serve a deictic function.

1828, from Latinized form of Greek deiktikos "able to show," from deiktos "shown," verbal adjective from deiknynai "to show" (see diction).

a. (context grammar English) Of or pertaining to deixis; to a word whose meaning is dependent on context n. (context grammar English) Such a word (such as I or here)

1. adj. relating to or characteristic of a word whose reference depends on the circumstances of its use; "deictic pronouns"

2. n. a word specifying identity or spacial or temporal location from the perspective of a speaker or hearer in the context in which the communication occurs; "words that introduce particulars of the speaker's and hearer's shared cognitive field into the message"- R.Rommetveit [syn: deictic word]