edictum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [eːˈdɪk.tũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eˈdik.tum]^[1]

Forms

ēdictum n (genitive ēdictī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of ⟨ēdictus⟩, the participle of ēdīcō “to proclaim”, used as a noun.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Terence, whom he dates 190–159 BC, and Terence uses it of a private person's order.^[4][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a proclamation by a magistrate or other authority, a decree, edict.^[2] In Cicero it was especially the edict a praetor issued on entering office, setting out the rules he would follow, and in Gaius the collected edicts of the urban praetor, as codified by Salvius Julianus.^[2] Lewis & Short contrast it with a senātūs cōnsultum.^[6]

Through Old French edit it gave English edit in the late 13th century, later remodelled as English edict in the late 15th century.^[3] It survives in Italian editto and Spanish edicto.^[1]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.^[4][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the praetor's edict.^[2][4]
• 140–180 AD – Gaius uses it of the codified edict.^[2][4]
• late 13th century – English edit “edict” is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A proclamation, decree, edict.^[2]
2. The edict of a magistrate on entering office.^[2]
3. An order.^[5]

Word family

• ēdictālis

Related words

• ēdīcō
• ēdictiō
• ēdictō
• dīcō
• English edict

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press