Dice Was Once the Plural of Die
Dice are small cubes used in games. The singular die has largely disappeared from ordinary use.
Dice are small cubes marked with numbers, thrown in games of chance. Strictly *dice* is the plural of *die*, but the singular has faded and most speakers say *a dice*, a change that dictionaries now record without objection. The older singular survives in *the die is cast*, Caesar's reported words at the Rubicon. Opposite faces of a standard die always add to seven, a convention going back to antiquity.
- Gaming cubes. *Roll the dice.*
- A single cube. *A die.*
- To cut into cubes. *Dice the onion.*
- The die is cast — the decision is final. *The die is cast.*
- Old French — *de*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Plural | dice | Two dice. |
| Singular | die | One die. |
| Verb | dice | Dicing. |
| Adjective | diced | Diced. |
| Latin | datum | Something given. |
- He rolled the dice twice.Game.
- Dice the carrots small.Cooking.
- Opposite faces total seven.Fact.
Plurals that swallowed their singulars
- Dice — die is now rare outside one quotation
- Pease — a plural misread as singular, giving *pea*
- Cherries — from Old French *cherise*, mistaken for a plural
- Data — the plural *datum* is now unusual
- Agenda — a Latin plural now treated as singular
Old French *de*, plural *dez*, from Latin *datum*, something given or played.
Is it correct to say a dice?
Yes in current usage. Die is the historical singular, but dice is now widely accepted for one cube and dictionaries record it.
Why do opposite faces add to seven?
It is an ancient convention in die making, which balances the numbers across the cube.