scilicet Latin · revision 18154

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la sciō, la licet}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈskiː.lɪ.kɛt]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈʃiː.li.t͡ʃet]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''scīlicet''' (not comparable)^(Wiktionary)

+ Lucretius and the archaic language in Livy often write it as two words, ''scīre licet''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a contraction of [[m|la|sciō|alt=scīre|t=to know]] and [[m|la|licet|t=it is permitted]], “one may know”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) It is built like [[vidēlicet]] and [[īlicet]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Plautus,^(Köbler 2010) who uses it like an impersonal verb with an accusative and infinitive: ''ita scīlicet factūram'', “you may be sure she will do so”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Scīlicet'' is at first “one may be sure (that), it is clear (that)”, and alone as an answer “obviously”.^(OLD 2012) 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”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It marks an inference, “evidently” (Cicero: ''metuēbat scīlicet nē indicārētur'', “he was afraid, evidently, of being informed on”).^(OLD 2012) 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”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “of course, to be sure, certainly, namely, that is to say, to wit”.^(Stelten 1995) English has used [[m|en|scilicet]], “that is, namely”, since the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''ita scīlicet factūram''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: ''id populus cūrat scīlicet''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''metuēbat scīlicet''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it as “that is to say”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – Used in English as [[m|en|scilicet]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # One may be sure, it is clear (that).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Of course, [[m|en|naturally]], certainly.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # No doubt (conceding a point).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Evidently, as is apparent.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To be sure, doubtless (ironic).^(OLD 2012)

+ # I mean; that is to say, [[m|en|namely]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[licet]]

+ * [[sciō]]

+ * [[vidēlicet]]

+ * [[en|scilicet]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}