Word of the Day - 08/03/26
didactic
/daɪ'dæktɪk/(adj.): instructive (especially excessively)
The novel had a didactic tone, aiming to teach children about the importance of honesty and hard work.
Word Origin
The word 'didactic' originates from the Greek word 'didaktikos' (διδακτικός), meaning 'skilled in teaching'. This term is derived from the Greek verb 'didaskein' (διδάσκειν), which means 'to teach'. The Greek root 'didao' (διδάω) also means 'to teach' or 'to learn', and the suffix '-ikos' is an adjectival ending meaning 'relating to' or 'skilled in'. From Greek, it entered Late Latin as 'didacticus', then French as 'didactique', before being adopted into English in the 17th century.
Words with similar origins include 'didacticism' (the practice of teaching), 'didactics' (the art or science of teaching), and 'auto-didact' (a person who is self-taught, combining 'auto-' from Greek 'autos' meaning 'self' with the root 'didact'). Another related term is 'didascalia', referring to notes or instructions for ancient Greek drama, stemming from the same Greek root related to teaching.