scilicet

Forms

scīlicet (not comparable)^[1] Lucretius and the archaic language in Livy often write it as two words, scīre licet.^[2]

Etymology

It is a contraction of scīre (“to know”) and licet (“it is permitted”), “one may know”.^[3][2][1] It is built like vidēlicet and īlicet.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Plautus,^[4] who uses it like an impersonal verb with an accusative and infinitive: ita scīlicet factūram, “you may be sure she will do so”.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Scīlicet is at first “one may be sure (that), it is clear (that)”, and alone as an answer “obviously”.^[3] As a particle it affirms an obvious fact, “naturally, of course”, often in answers (Plautus: tam ego homō sum quam tū. — scīlicet, “I am as much a man as you. — Of course”), and in a first clause it concedes, “no doubt …, but”.^[3][1] It marks an inference, “evidently” (Cicero: metuēbat scīlicet nē indicārētur, “he was afraid, evidently, of being informed on”).^[3] Ironically it is “to be sure, doubtless” (Terence: id populus cūrat scīlicet, “as if people care about that!”), and it introduces an obvious qualification, “I mean”, and in Suetonius and later simply “that is to say”.^[3][1]

Church Latin glosses it “of course, to be sure, certainly, namely, that is to say, to wit”.^[5] English has used scilicet, “that is, namely”, since the late 14th century.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ita scīlicet factūram.^[3][4]
• 190–159 BC – Terence: id populus cūrat scīlicet.^[3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero: metuēbat scīlicet.^[3][4]
• c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it as “that is to say”.^[3][4]
• late 14th century – Used in English as scilicet.^[6]

Meanings

Adverb

1. One may be sure, it is clear (that).^[3]
2. Of course, naturally, certainly.^[3][1][5]
3. No doubt (conceding a point).^[3]
4. Evidently, as is apparent.^[3][1]
5. To be sure, doubtless (ironic).^[3]
6. I mean; that is to say, namely.^[3][1][5]

Related words

• licet
• sciō
• vidēlicet
• English scilicet

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com