Standard Lemma guide

diptych

noun · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈdɪptɪk/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪptɪk

1

noun

Meaning 1

A writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material connected by hinges and shutting together so as to protect the writing within.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets, usually connected by hinges.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: art, arts

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: panel painting

3

noun

Meaning 3

A double catalogue, containing in one part the names of living, and in the other of deceased, ecclesiastics and benefactors of a church.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: Christianity

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A catalogue of saints.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: Christianity

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

Artistically-wrought tablets distributed by consuls, etc. of the later Roman Empire to commemorate their tenure of office; hence (transferred sense) a list of magistrates.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ancient-Rome, historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A novel published in two volumes forming one continuous story (as opposed to a duology or dilogy).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A literary work consisting of two contrasting parts, such as a narrative telling the same story from two opposing points of view.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

Any work made up of two parts treating complementary or contrasting aspects of one general topic.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: transferred sense

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

a painting or carving (especially an altarpiece) on two panels (usually hinged like a book)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: art, fine art

History

Etymology

From Late Latin diptycha, plural, from Ancient Greek, neuter plural of δίπτυχος (díptukhos, “folded, doubled”), from δι- (di-) + πτυχή (ptukhḗ, “fold, layer”).

Across languages

Translations

37 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: díptic — writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material
  • Dutch: diptiek — writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material
  • Irish: diptic — writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material
  • Russian: ди́птих (díptix) — writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material
  • Armenian: երկպատկեր (erkpatker) — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Armenian: երկբացիկպատկեր (erkbacʻikpatker) — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Bulgarian: диптих (diptih) — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Catalan: díptic — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Chinese Mandarin: 雙聯畫 /双联画 (shuāngliánhuà) — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Czech: diptych — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Danish: diptykon — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Dutch: diptiek — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Esperanto: diptiko — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Estonian: diptühhon — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Finnish: diptyykki — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • French: diptyque — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Georgian: დიპტიქი (diṗṭiki) — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • German: Diptychon — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Greek: δίπτυχο (díptycho) — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Hungarian: diotichon — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Irish: diptic — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Italian: dittico — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Japanese: ディプティク (diputiku) — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Latvian: diptihs — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Lithuanian: diptikas — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Māori: kāhui takirua — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Polish: dyptyk — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Portuguese: díptico — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Romanian: diptic — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Russian: ди́птих (díptix) — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Serbo-Croatian: диптих — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Serbo-Croatian: diptih — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Spanish: díptico — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Swedish: diptyk — picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets
  • Catalan: díptic — double catalogue of ecclesiastics and benefactors of the church
  • Irish: diptic — double catalogue of ecclesiastics and benefactors of the church
  • Finnish: kaanon — catalogue of saints