dica Latin · revision 33742

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=grc δίκη}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈdɪ.ka]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈdiː.ka]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dica''' ''f'' (genitive dicae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The grammarian Phocas says only the accusative is found, in both numbers; the genitive singular and the ablative are lacking.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|δίκη|tr=díkē|t=custom, right; lawsuit]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) Köbler takes the Greek word back to [[ine-pro|*deiḱ-|t=to show, point]].^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL finds it first in Plautus,^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010) who has ''dicam scribere'', “to bring a lawsuit”, in the ''Aulularia''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a legal term for a lawsuit or action, and it always refers to Greek affairs.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) The usual phrase is ''dicam scribere alicui'', a copy of the Greek for “to bring an action against someone”, found in Plautus, in Terence's ''Phormio'' and in Cicero's speeches against Verres about Sicily.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Plautus also has ''dicam subscribere''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, ''dicam scribere''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence, in the ''Phormio''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of lawsuits in Sicily.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(law, of Greek affairs)'' A [[m|en|lawsuit]], legal action;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''dicam scrībere'', to bring an action.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[līs]]

+ * [[āctiō]]

+ * [[causa]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate medieval ''dica'', which Köbler and Niermeyer connect with Old English, means a tally-stick and a tax or aid.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}