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Glite Dictionary
logomachy

logomachy

9.9
An argument about the meaning of words
  • noun
  • /ləˈɡɒməki/
  • Archaic
translation icon : logomachía
  • Rather than reaching a conclusion, the meeting ended in a fruitless logomachy about the meanings of various terms.

Examples

  • The debate turned into a confusing logomachy over the precise definition of freedom.

  • During the discussions, their arguments devolved into a mere logomachy rather than addressing the real issues.

  • By 1646, Goodwin could deliver sullen adjudication on the resultant logomachy: "Never was this poor ignorant world more abused with a word than it is at this day with the word, Orthodox." 42 #

    Academic text (2018)

How Heated

argument
617 2.3
logomachy
  • Archaic
9.9
dispute
384 3.0
debate
  • Formal
∞ 2.0
to quibble
26 7.0

Surface Forms

logomachy singular
logomachies plural

Morphology

logomachy = logo (opaque) = logo + machy

The elements are learned Greek combining forms (with 'logo' misleadingly associated with 'brand mark' in modern English and 'machy' not a productive English morpheme), so learners cannot reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

The word logomachy comes from two Greek parts: logo- meaning 'word' or 'speech' and -machy meaning 'battle' or 'fight'. So a logomachy is a 'battle of words', an argument about what words mean, and you can see logo- in familiar words like logic and dialogue.