dico Latin · revision 724

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈdiː.koː]^(Wiktionary)

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dīcō''' (present infinitive dīcere, perfect active dīxī, supine dictum); third conjugation, irregular short imperative^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*deik-e/o-|t=to say]], [[inh|ine-pro|*déyḱeti|t=to show, point out]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The meaning shifted from “to show” to “to say”, and the old spelling [[m|la|deico]] appears in early inscriptions such as the decree on the Bacchanalia.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The perfect [[m|la|dīxī]] continues a Proto-Indo-European s-aorist.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[osc|deíkum|t=to say]], [[xum|teitu|t=let him say]], [[sa|दिशति|tr=diśáti|t=points out]], [[grc|δείκνυμι|tr=deíknumi|t=to show]] and [[ang|tǣċan|t=to show, teach]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The root noun *-dik- “saying” is seen in [[iudex|alt=iūdex]] and [[vindex]], and [[osc|meddíss|t=magistrate]] is a parallel formation.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Naevius onwards.^(de Vaan 2008) In Plautus it means to [[m|en|speak]] or talk, as of someone who “speaks harshly to a free man”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb covered speaking in general and making a speech in court or assembly, and Cato defined the orator as ''vir bonus dicendi peritus''.^(OLD 2012) It meant to say or state something, with indirect statement, question or command, and in law to allege or assert positively.^(OLD 2012) It also meant to use a word or term, to pronounce, to mention, to celebrate in poetry, and to mean or refer to.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ With a predicate it meant to call or name someone, and in public life to appoint, as in ''dictator dictus est''.^(OLD 2012) It was used of fixing a day or terms and of naming a dowry.^(OLD 2012) It survives as French ''dire'', Italian ''dire'' and Romanian ''zice'',^(Wiktionary) and its participle ''dictum'' gave [[en|dictum]] and, through Italian, [[en|ditto]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for speaking and telling.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 186 BC – The decree on the Bacchanalia writes it ''deicere''.^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato defines the orator as a good man skilled in speaking.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero distinguishes ''dicere'' “to speak formally” from ''loqui'' “to talk”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|speak]], talk; to make a speech.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To say, declare, state; to tell (someone to do something).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(law)'' To allege; to assert positively.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To use (a word); to pronounce.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To utter; to sing or recite (a song).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To speak of, [[m|en|mention]]; to celebrate in song.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To mean, refer to.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To call, name.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To fix, prescribe (a day, terms, a penalty); to appoint (a magistrate).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To promise (a dowry).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[addīcō]]

+ * [[benedīcō]]

+ * [[condīcō]]

+ * [[contrādīcō]]

+ * [[dictiō]]

+ * [[dictō]]

+ * [[dictum]]

+ * [[ēdīcō]]

+ * [[indīcō]]

+ * [[interdīcō]]

+ * [[maledīcō]]

+ * [[praedīcō]]

+ * [[valedīcō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[iūdex]]

+ * [[vindex]]

+ * [[en|diction]]

+ * [[en|ditto]]

+ * [[en|verdict]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different verb, ''dicāre'' with a short ''i'', means “to dedicate, devote”, and is probably a back-formation from compounds such as ''dēdicāre''.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}