Etymologically
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edictum

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:06. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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

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