The Dictionary

The Dictionary is an authoritative lexicon referenced within the narrative. Its entries present multiple senses for a term and note how meanings vary across historical and disciplinary forms of Orth.

First noted appearance and context

An entry defining “Extramuros” is quoted, presenting four senses labeled by Orth tradition: Old Orth, Middle Orth, Praxic Orth, and New Orth. The quotation is attributed to “THE DICTIONARY, 4th edition, A.R. 3000.”

Other quoted entries

• “Cloister,” with four numbered senses distinguished by Orth traditions (Old Orth, Early Middle Orth, Late Middle Orth, New Orth). The citation likewise reads “THE DICTIONARY, 4th edition, A.R. 3000.”

Structure and features

• Entries are organized into numbered senses with brief explanations.
• Each sense may be annotated with the Orth tradition it reflects (e.g., Old/Early Middle/Late Middle/New Orth; some entries note Praxic Orth).
• Citations present the work’s title in uppercase (“THE DICTIONARY”) and include edition and era notation.

Example of usage

The “Extramuros” entry illustrates the Dictionary’s approach: beginning with a literal sense (“outside the walls”), then extending to broader social and geographic meanings associated with the mathic world and nearby settlements beyond a math.

Role so far

The Dictionary serves as an in-text authority framing terminology used by characters and settings.

Current status

Known through quoted entries; its physical location, custodians, and compilation process have not been specified.