【析形】会意字。金文字形从言、从二犬,像两犬相对而吠,从言表示与言语有关。小篆字形犬旁变同向。隶书字形变后,居左的犬旁写成犭,犭为犬的变体。 【释义】《说文》:“确也。”本义是争讼、诉讼,后泛指一般的争论。由诉讼引申为讼案,案件。冤屈的案件称为[冤狱]。后来又有了监狱、牢房之义,旧时把管理监狱的小官叫[狱吏],把看守监狱的人叫[狱卒],把拘押犯人的监房叫[狱室]。 【shape analysis】It is the associative character.In Bronze Inscriptions the meaningful parts are 言(yán,speak)which relates to speak and two犬(quǎn,dog)just like two dogs barking nose to nose.In Small Seal script the two犬are in the same direction. 【original meaning】Litigation.