This concept allows for the provenance of the dictionary, but also of its constituents to be expressed. Such a notion of dictionary corresponds to a wide variety of concrete data structures, such as a maps or associative arrays.A given dictionary forms a given structure for its members. A different structure (obtained either by insertion or removal of members) constitutes a different dictionary.
A dictionary is an entity that provides a structure to some constituents, which are themselves entities. These constituents are said to be member of the dictionary.