lexis
(ˈlɛksɪs)
[ad. Gr. λέξις diction, word, f. λεγ- to speak.]
1. The diction or wording, in contrast to other elements, of a piece of writing (see also quot. 1950).
| 1950 Mod. Philology XLVII. iv. 243/1, I have already distinguished, in the first part of this essay, between speech as action (praxis) and speech as meaningful (lexis). 1957 N. Frye Sound & Poetry p. xxiii, Singing and chanting are, in modern times, radically different methods of associating melos and lexis. |
2. Linguistics. a. = lexicon 2; items of lexical, as opp. esp. to grammatical, meaning; the total word-stock of a language. b. The study of words as lexical items.
| 1960 E. Delavenay Introd. Machine Transl. v. 67 During the early days of research the priority of lexis over morphology in preparing the way for machine translation was taken for granted. Ibid. 131 Lexis, used here, and by M.T. linguists, to designate the words of a language, contained in its dictionary or lexicon, as opposed to the morphology and syntax of that language. 1961 Language XXXVII. 325 A distinction..between grammar and lexis seems to be necessary if the patternings are to be economically stated or defined. 1962 R. Quirk Use of English v. 72 The word-stock—also known as the vocabulary or lexis. 1963 R. M. W. Dixon Ling. Sci. & Logic ii. 45 Theories of grammar and lexis are both needed. 1964 English Studies XLV. 24 Patterns of vocabulary, or lexis, which describe the company words keep. 1966 Listener 14 Apr. 534/2 Dr. Steiner's problems with the gaucho's lexis and the Amerindian's grammar..are linguistic and not literary problems. 1971 E. Afr. Jrnl. Mar. 35/2 Presentation of lexis is balanced by the introduction of grammatical structures. |