English
dictum
Dictum comes from Latin dictum ‘proverb, maxim’, from dictus ‘having been said’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- ‘to show’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deyḱ-‘to show’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*déyḱeti‘to show, point out’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*deikō‘to show, indicate’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdico‘to say’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdictus‘having been said’perfect passive participle of dico
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdictum‘proverb, maxim’
- Englishearliest quotation 1918dictum
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deyḱ-‘to show’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*déyḱeti‘to show, point out’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*deikō‘to show, indicate’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdico‘to say’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdictus‘having been said’perfect passive participle of dico
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdictum‘proverb, maxim’
- Englishearliest quotation 1918dictum
Earliest quotation: 1918, Walter Lionel George: “This should not surprise us who know that van…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- ‘to show’
teach, toe, token, digit, paradigm, indicative, syndicate, tache, syndicalism, 42 more
through Proto-Italic *deikō ‘to show, indicate’
through Latin dico ‘to say’
index, indicate, indication, preach, dedication, indicator, dictionary, predict, ditto, dedicate, dictator, contradictory, contradiction, addict, predicament, dictate, contradict, predicate, ditty, interdiction, diction, interdict, indicia, 22 more
Today it means
noun An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; a maxim, an apothegm.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- / dictum