ˈdȯsˌyā also ˈdäs- or ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷; ˈdäsēˌā also ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, bundle of documents with a label on the back, dossier, from dos back (from Latin dorsum ) + -ier -er
1. : an accumulation of records, reports, miscellaneous pertinent data, and documents bearing on a single subject of study or investigation : file
a dossier of criminal acts of occupation troops
a numbered dossier is kept on each patient containing a full history of his physical condition
a year ahead of production of the film researchers began a dossier on the locale and period
no censorship of written or spoken words, no tapping of telephones, opening of letters, compiling of dossiers — Horizon
methods of the police state that run the gamut from wire tapping to the maintenance of the dossier — G.B.Oxnam
2. : an author's accumulation of notes toward the creation of a projected fictional character