I. A.. In the oldest per. of the lang., a t. t. with which an assembly was dismissed when the business on hand was at an end, you may go; it is over: semper ilicet finem rei significat, ut actum est. Sic judices de concilio dimittebantur, suprema dicta cum praeco pronunciasset ilicet, quod significat ire licet, Don. Ter. Phorm. 1, 4, 31; cf. id. Ter. Heaut. 5, 2, 20; Serv. Verg. A. 2, 424; so, “at the end of funeral ceremonies,” id. ib. 6, 216 and 231.—
B. Transf.
1. (Ante-class. and rare.) Ilicet, let us go, let us be gone, Plaut. Truc. 2, 7, 35: “ilicet: Quid hic conterimus operam frustra?” Ter. Phorm. 1, 4, 30; id. Heaut. 5, 2, 20: “ilicet parasiticae arti maxumam malam crucem,” the parasite's art may go and be hanged, Plaut. Capt. 3, 1, 9 Brix.—
2. All is over, to signify that any thing is lost or has failed (ante-class.): “ilicet, mandata eri perierunt,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 182; cf.: “actum est, ilicet, me infelicem et scelestam,” id. Cist. 4, 2, 17; id. Curc. 1, 3, 30, Ter. Eun. 1, 1, 9: “ilicet, desine, jam conclamatum est,” id. ib. 2, 3, 56: “ilicet, vadimonium ultro mihi facit,” Plaut. Epid. 5, 2, 19.—
II. Through the intermediate idea of hastening (cf.: ilico, extemplo; protinus, continuo, statim), straightway, immediately, instantly, forthwith (ante - class. and in Aug. poets): an tu eloquens ilicet, Afran. ap. Charis. p. 180 P.: “fugit ilicet ocior Euro, Speluncamque petit,” Verg. A. 8, 223: “ilicet ignis edax summa ad fastigia vento Volvitur,” id. ib. 2, 758: “ilicet obruimur numero,” id. ib. 2, 424; Tib. 2, 6, 15 (dub.; Müll. si licet); Stat. Th. 1, 92.