dictum
An authoritative statementAn authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; a maxim, an apothegm.
» As Yoda's old dictum goes, "Do or do not. There is no try."
Wie Yoda einst sagte: „Tue es, oder tue es nicht. Es gibt kein Versuchen.“
Meaning
4 sensesAn authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; a maxim, an apothegm.
Machtspruch, Diktum
изрече́ниеizrečénije, сенте́нцияsentɛ́ncija
A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it.
The report of a judgment made by one of the judges who has given it.
An arbitrament or award.
- an authoritative declaration
- an opinion voiced by a judge on a point of law not directly bearing on the case in question and therefore not binding
Examples
2 sentencesAs Yoda's old dictum goes, "Do or do not. There is no try."
deWie Yoda einst sagte: „Tue es, oder tue es nicht. Es gibt kein Versuchen.“
The dictum from that famous case became the basis for a number of important Supreme Court decisions.
Translations
4 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Latin dictum (“proverb, maxim”), from dictus (“having been said”), perfect passive paFrom Latin dictum (“proverb, maxim”), from dictus (“having been said”), perfect passive participle of dico (“to say”). Compare Spanish dicho (“saying”). Doublet of dict.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: dicta / dictumsSynonyms
3 synonyms- an authoritative declaration:pronouncementsay-so
- an opinion voiced by a judge on a point of law not directly bearing on the case in question and therefore not binding:obiter dictum
Word family
2 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Plural nouns — Because its plural is irregular