I. dīˈdaktik, -tēk, Brit usually & US sometimes də̇ˈd- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Greek didaktikos apt at teaching
1. archaic
a. : a didactic treatise
b. : a didactic writer
2. didactics plural but singular or plural in construction : systematic instruction : pedagogy ; sometimes : teachings
II. (ˈ)dī|d-, Brit usually & US sometimes də̇ˈd- adjective
also di·dac·ti·cal -tə̇kəl, -tēk-
Etymology: Greek didaktikos apt at teaching, from didaktos taught, able to be taught (from didaskein to teach) + -ikos -ic
1. : fitted or intended to teach : concerned with or functioning in the conveyance of instruction: as
a. : teaching some moral lesson
the didactic aspect of the Mysteries is often overlooked
b. of literature or other art : intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment
didactic poetry
a fine piece of didactic writing
often : overburdened with instructive or factual matter to the exclusion of graceful and pleasing detail : pompously dull and erudite : dry
his writing became increasingly arid and didactic as he withdrew from normal social life
to write a didactic play is to suppose … the public in need of your advice — E.R.Bentley
c. : involving lecture and textbook instruction rather than demonstration and laboratory study
a purely didactic course
both didactic and laboratory instruction are used
d. of grammar : normative
2. : making moral observations : urging the acceptance of moral conclusions : moralistic
• di·dac·ti·cal·ly -tə̇k(ə)lē, -tēk-, -li adverb