LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neutersecond declension

ēdictum

ēdictum n (genitive ēdictī)
Classical[eːˈdɪk.tũː]Ecclesiastical[eˈdik.tum]

Meaning

  1. a proclamation, ordinance, edict, decree or manifesto by a magistrate
  2. the public announcement of the praetor or other senior magistrate, in which he states, on entering upon his office, the rules by which he will be guided in administering justice; inaugural address
  3. broadlyan order, command, edict

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeēdictumēdicta
genitiveēdictīēdictōrum
dativeēdictōēdictīs
accusativeēdictumēdicta
ablativeēdictōēdictīs
vocativeēdictumēdicta

ēdictum, i, n. id..
A. A proclamation, ordinance, edict, manifesto of the Roman magistrates (cf.: senatus consultum, scitum, jussum; decretum, epistola, rescriptum), e. g. of the ediles, Cic. Phil. 9, 7 fin.; id. Off. 3, 17, 71; Gell. 4, 2; Dig. 21, 1; of a tribune of the people, Cic. de Imp. Pomp. 19 fin.; of a dictator, Liv. 8, 34; of the consuls, id. 8, 7; 24, 8; of the proconsuls, id. 26, 12; of Caesar in the civil war, Caes. B. C. 2, 19; of the emperor, Just. Inst. 1, 2, 6; Vulg. Luc. 2, 1 (cf. decretum, epistola, rescriptum) et saep.—
2. Esp. freq. the public announcement of the praetor, in which he states, on entering upon his office, the rules by which he will be guided in administering justice (out of such legal regulations renewed and made more complete every year—edictum perpetuum, in contradistinction to edicta prout res incidit; cf. Eutr. 8, 17—there was gradually formed an important part of the body of Roman law), Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 41, § 105; 2, 3, 7; 14 sq.; id. Quint. 19; id. Fl. 28, 67 et saep.; cf. Sanders, Just. Inst. introd. p. xviii. sq.; xxiv. sq.; Just. Inst. 1, 2, 7; Rein's Privatr. p. 70 sq.; 80; 83, and the sources cited.—
B. Transf., in gen.
1. An order, command, Ter. Heaut. 4, 1, 10.—
2. A play-bill, order of games: edictum et ladorum ordinem perlegere, Sen. Ep. 117: his mane edictum, Pers. 1, 134 Gildersleeve ad loc.

Origins

Nominalization of the neuter forms of ēdictus, perfect passive participle of ēdīcō (“to declare, announce, decree”).

Descendants
  • Catalanedicte
  • Englishedict
  • Frenchédit
  • GermanEdikt
  • Italianeditto
  • Portugueseedito
  • Romanianedict
  • Spanishedicto
  • Byzantine Greekἔδικτονfrom Greek έδικτο
  • Russianэдикт

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesEdictumEdictum The jus edicendi, or power of issuing edicts--public and authoritative notices on matters which fell within their jurisdiction, or formed part…

Quick answers

What does ēdictum mean in Latin?
ēdictum, a noun, means “a proclamation, ordinance, edict, decree or manifesto by a magistrate; the public announcement of the praetor or other senior magistrate, in which he states, on entering upon his office, the rules by which he will be gui”.
What is the genitive of ēdictum?
The genitive singular is ēdictī. ēdictum is neuter, second declension.
How do you pronounce ēdictum?
In classical Latin, [eːˈdɪk.tũː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [eˈdik.tum].