| "-lect" |
| Definition:
A terminal combining form that is commonly used in linguistics (1) to indicate a social or regional variety (e.g., idiolect) (2) to form linguistic technical terms (e.g., acrolect). |
| Etymology: It derives from the word dialect. |
| OED: The combining form's first citation is from 1965: "I will refer to this topmost dialect in the local sociolinguistic hierarchy as acrolect (from acro- ‘apex’ plus -lect as in dialect). …." (W. A. Stewart in R. W. Shuy Social Dial. & Lang. Learning 15) |