(usu in pl, but treated as sing. or pl) a systematic reasoning, exposition, or argument that juxtaposes opposed or contradictory ideas and seeks to resolve their conflict
the dialectical tension or opposition between two interacting forces or elements
(usu in pl, but treated as sing. or pl) development through the stages of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis in accordance with Hegel's logic or systems derived from it
dialectic adj
dialectical adj
dialectically adv
[Middle English dialetik intellectual investigation by means of dialogue, via French and Latin from Greek dialektikē, from dialektos conversation, from dialegesthai: see dialogue]