Abstract
<jats:p>The study examines the philosophical content of the grammatical entries in Diderot’s Encyclopédie. It traces the shift in perspective from the analysis of synonyms to the philosophical analysis of the meaning of words. It also highlights that for Diderot, “grammar” does not primarily refer to grammatical rules but rather to an understanding of language and meaning, which he considers a fundamental prerequisite for the transmission of knowledge. Furthermore, the article reveals the core ideas of Diderot’s materialist natural philosophy – chance, constant transformation and universal order – through Encyclopédie entries such as Fortuit, Imparfait, Imperceptible, and Amer. The study also discusses the fragmentary, “polyp-like” nature of Diderot’s writing style, emphasizing the harmony between content and form.</jats:p>