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dictum

[ dik-tuhm ]

/ ˈdɪk təm /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR dictum ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural dic·ta [dik-tuh] /ˈdɪk tə/, dic·tums.

an authoritative pronouncement; judicial assertion.

a saying; maxim.

obiter dictum.

Origin of dictum

1660–70; < Latin: something said, a saying, command, word, noun use of neuter past participle of dīcere to say, speak; cf. index

SYNONYMS FOR dictum

1 edict, decree, fiat, order, declaration.

2 adage, proverb, truism, saw.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR dictum ON THESAURUS.COM

Words nearby dictum

dictionary catalog, dictionary catalogue, dictionary of names, dictionary.com, dictograph, dictum, dicty, dictynna, dictyoma, dictyopteran, dictyosome

Example sentences from the Web for dictum

Somehow I haven't been able to locate that dictum in the Quran, ahadith or sunan, but it must be there somewhere.

Hamas: The Palestinian Fashion Police |Hussein Ibish |April 9, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
In politics, the dictum ‘follow the money’ usually leads to uncomfortable truths.

Partisan Journalists Are Following the Money All Too Literally |John Avlon |November 14, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Because Sanford is not the only politician to disprove Scott Fitzgerald's dictum.

Death of the Sex Scandal |Louise Roug Bokkenheuser |September 29, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
And so, rather than walking away from his fans, Costello should take heed of the dictum: “Where words fail, music speaks.”

Elvis Costello Snubs Israel |Roi Ben-Yehuda |May 20, 2010 |DAILY BEAST

This was the dictum of those in authority and the underlings were only too eager to fulfil it to the letter.

Sixteen Months in Four German Prisons |Henry Charles Mahoney
The big fellow in the firelight stressed inevitability in his dictum.

Dust of the Desert |Robert Welles Ritchie
He was sitting in the butlers pantry, sipping his one glass of port, when Sophronia entered and delivered her dictum.

Short Sixes |H. C. Bunner
And this dictum gave rise to some rather embarrassing situations on more occasions than one.

Twentieth Century Negro Literature |Various
If by himself, then there is again the infinitely recurring series according to the dictum.

Mental Philosophy: Including the Intellect, Sensibilities, and Will |Joseph Haven

British Dictionary definitions for dictum

dictum

/ (ˈdɪktəm) /

noun plural -tums or -ta (-tə)

a formal or authoritative statement or assertion; pronouncement

a popular saying or maxim

law See obiter dictum

Word Origin for dictum

C16: from Latin, from dīcere to say