I.praes. DEICO, Inscr. Orell. 4848; imp. usu. dic; cf. duc, fac, fer, from duco, etc., DEICVNTO, and perf. DEIXSERINT, P. C. de Therm. ib. 3673; imp. dice, Naev. ap. Fest. p. 298, 29 Müll.; Plaut. Capt. 2, 2, 109; id. Bac. 4, 4, 65; id. Merc. 1, 2, 47 al.; cf. Quint. 1, 6, 21; fut. dicem = dicam, Cato ap. Quint. 1, 7, 23; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 72, 6 Müll.—Another form of the future is dicebo, Novius ap. Non. 507 (Com. v. 8 Rib.). —Perf. sync.: “dixti,” Plaut. As. 4, 2, 14; id. Trin. 2, 4, 155; id. Mil. 2, 4, 12 et saep.; Ter. And. 3, 1, 1; 3, 2, 38; id. Heaut. 2, 3, 100 et saep.; Cic. Fin. 2, 3, 10; id. N. D. 3, 9, 23; id. Caecin. 29, 82; acc. to Quint. 9, 3, 22.— Perf. subj.: “dixis,” Plaut. Capt. 1, 2, 46; Caecil. ap. Gell. 7, 17 fin.: “dixem = dixissem,” Plaut. Pseud. 1, 5, 84; inf. dixe = dix isse, Plaut. Fragm. ap. Non. 105, 23; Varr. ib. 451, 16; Arn. init.; Aus. Sept. Sap. de Cleob. 8; inf. praes. pass. dicier, Ter. Eun. 4, 4, 32; Vatin. in Cic. Fam. 5, 9 al.), v. a. root DIC = ΔΕΙΚ in δείκνυμι; lit., to show; cf. δίκη, and Lat. dicis, ju-dex, dicio, to say, tell, mention, relate, affirm, declare, state; to mean, intend (for syn. cf.: for, loquor, verba facio, dicto, dictito, oro, inquam, aio, fabulor, concionor, pronuntio, praedico, recito, declamo, affirmo, assevero, contendo; also, nomino, voco, alloquor, designo, nuncupo; also, decerno, jubeo, statuo, etc.; cf. also, nego.—The person addressed is usually put in dat., v. the foll.: dicere ad aliquem, in eccl. Lat., stands for the Gr. εἰπεῖν πρός τινα, Vulg. Luc. 2, 34 al.; cf. infra I. B. 2. γ).
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: “Amphitruonis socium nae me esse volui dicere,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 228: “advenisse familiarem dicito,” id. ib. 1, 1, 197: “haec uti sunt facta ero dicam,” id. ib. 1, 1, 304; cf. ib. 2, 1, 23: “signi dic quid est?” id. ib. 1, 1, 265: “si dixero mendacium,” id. ib. 1, 1, 43; cf. “opp. vera dico,” id. ib. 1, 1, 238 al.: “quo facto aut dicto adest opus,” id. ib. 1, 1, 15; cf.: “dictu opus est,” Ter. Heaut. 5, 1, 68: “nihil est dictu facilius,” id. Phorm. 2, 1, 70: “turpe dictu,” id. Ad. 2, 4, 11: “indignis si male dicitur, bene dictum id esse dico,” Plaut. Curc. 4, 2, 27: “ille, quem dixi,” whom I have mentioned, named, Cic. de Or. 3, 12, 45 et saep.: vel dicam = vel potius, or rather: “stuporem hominis vel dicam pecudis attendite,” Cic. Phil. 2, 12, 30; cf.: “mihi placebat Pomponius maxime vel dicam minime displicebat,” id. Brut. 57, 207; so id. ib. 70, 246; id. Fam. 4, 7, 3 al.—
b. Dicitur, dicebatur, dictum est, impers. with acc. and inf., it is said, related, maintained, etc.; or, they say, affirm, etc.: de hoc (sc. Diodoro) Verri dicitur, habere eum, etc., it is reported to Verres that, etc., Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 18: “non sine causa dicitur, ad ea referri omnes nostras cogitationes,” id. Fin. 3, 18, 60; so, “dicitur,” Nep. Paus. 5, 3; Quint. 5, 7, 33; 7, 2, 44; Ov. F. 4, 508: “Titum multo apud patrem sermone orasse dicebatur, ne, etc.,” Tac. H. 4, 52; so, “dicebatur,” id. A. 1, 10: “in hac habitasse platea dictum'st Chrysidem,” Ter. And. 4, 5, 1: “dictum est,” Caes. B. G. 1, 1, 5; Liv. 38, 56; Quint. 6, 1, 27: “ut pulsis hostibus dici posset, eos, etc.,” Caes. B. G. 1, 46, 3. Cf. also: hoc, illud dicitur, with acc. and inf., Cic. Fin. 5, 24, 72; id. de Or. 1, 33, 150; Quint. 4, 2, 91; 11, 3, 177 al. —Esp. in histt. in reference to what has been previously related: “ut supra dictum est,” Sall. J. 96, 1: “sicut ante dictum est,” Nep. Dion. 9, 5; cf. Curt. 3, 7, 7; 5, 1, 11; 8, 6, 2 et saep.—
c. (See Zumpt, Gram. § 607.) Dicor, diceris, dicitur, with nom. and inf., it is said that I, thou, he, etc.; or, they say that I, thou, etc.: “ut nos dicamur duo omnium dignissimi esse,” Plaut. As. 2, 2, 47: cf. Quint. 4, 4, 6: “dicar Princeps Aeolium carmen ad Italos Deduxisse modos,” Hor. Od. 3, 30, 10 al.: “illi socius esse diceris,” Plaut. Rud. 1, 2, 72: aedes Demaenetus ubi dicitur habitare, id. As. 2, 3, 2: “qui (Pisistratus) primus Homeri libros confusos antea sic disposuisse dicitur, ut nunc habemus,” Cic. de Or. 3, 34, 137 et saep.: “quot annos nata dicitur?” Plaut. Cist. 4, 2, 89: “is nunc dicitur venturus peregre,” id. Truc. 1, 1, 66 et saep. In a double construction, with nom. and inf., and acc. and inf. (acc. to no. b. and c.): petisse dicitur major Titius ... idque ab eis facile (sc. eum) impetrasse, Auct. B. Afr. 28 fin.; so Suet. Oth. 7.—
d. Dictum ac factum or dictum factum (Gr. ἅμα ἔπος ἅμα ἔργον), in colloq. lang., no sooner said than done, without delay, Ter. And. 2, 3, 7: “dictum ac factum reddidi,” it was "said and done" with me, id. Heaut. 4, 5, 12; 5, 1, 31; cf.: “dicto citius,” Verg. A. 1, 142; Hor. S. 2, 2, 80; and: “dicto prope citius,” Liv. 23, 47, 6.—
B. In partic.
1. Pregn.
a. To assert, affirm a thing as certain (opp. nego): “quem esse negas, eundem esse dicis,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 6, 12; cf.: “dicebant, ego negabam,” id. Fam. 3, 8, 5; and: “quibus creditum non sit negantibus, iisdem credatur dicentibus?” id. Rab. Post. 12, 35.—
b. For dico with a negative, nego is used, q. v.; cf. Zumpt, Gram. § 799; “but: dicere nihil esse pulchrius, etc.,” Liv. 30, 12, 6; 21, 9, 3 Fabri; so, “freq. in Liv. when the negation precedes,” id. 30, 22, 5; 23, 10, 13 al.; cf. Krebs, Antibar. p. 355.—
2. dico is often inserted parenthetically, to give emphasis to an apposition: “utinam C. Caesari, patri, dico adulescenti contigisset, etc.,” Cic. Phil. 5, 18, 49; id. Tusc. 5, 36, 105; id. Planc. 12, 30; Quint. 9, 2, 83; cf. Cic. Or. 58, 197; id. Tusc. 4, 16, 36; Sen. Ep. 14, 6; id. Vit. Beat. 15, 6; Quint. 1, 6, 24: “ille mihi praesidium dederat, cum dico mihi, senatui dico populoque Romano,” Cic. Phil. 11, 8, 20; Sen. Ep. 83, 12; Plin. Ep. 2, 20, 2; 3, 2, 2.—
3. In rhetor. and jurid. lang., to pronounce, deliver, rehearse, speak any thing.
(α).
With acc.: “oratio dicta de scripto,” Cic. Planc. 30 fin.; cf.: “sententiam de scripto,” id. Att. 4, 3, 3: “controversias,” Quint. 3, 8, 51; 9, 2, 77: “prooemium ac narrationem et argumenta,” id. 2, 20, 10: “exordia,” id. 11, 3, 161: “theses et communes locos,” id. 2, 1, 9: “materias,” id. 2, 4, 41: “versus,” Cic. Or. 56, 189; Quint. 6, 3, 86: “causam, of the defendant or his attorney,” to make a defensive speech, to plead in defence, Cic. Rosc. Am. 5; id. Quint. 8; id. Sest. 8; Quint. 5, 11, 39; 7, 4, 3; 8, 2, 24 al.; cf. “causas (said of the attorney),” Cic. de Or. 1, 2, 5; 2, 8, 32 al.: “jus,” to pronounce judgment, id. Fl. 3; id. Fam. 13, 14; hence the praetor's formula: DO, DICO, ADDICO; v. do, etc.—
(β).
With ad and acc. pers., to plead before a person or tribunal: “ad unum judicem,” Cic. Opt. Gen. 4, 10: “ad quos? ad me, si idoneus videor qui judicem, etc.,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 29, § 72; Liv. 3, 41.—
(γ).
With ad and acc. of thing, to speak in reference to, in reply to: “non audeo ad ista dicere,” Cic. Tusc. 3, 32, 78; id. Rep. 1, 18, 30.—
(δ).
Absol.: “nec idem loqui, quod dicere,” Cic. Or. 32: “est oratoris proprium, apte, distincte, ornate dicere,” id. Off. 1, 1, 2; so, “de aliqua re pro aliquo, contra aliquem, etc., innumerable times in Cic. and Quint.: dixi, the t. t. at the end of a speech,” I have done, Cic. Verr. 1 fin. Ascon. and Zumpt, a. h. 1.; “thus, dixerunt, the t. t. by which the praeco pronounced the speeches of the parties to be finished,” Quint. 1, 5, 43; cf. Spald. ad Quint. 6, 4, 7.—Transf. beyond the judicial sphere: “causam nullam or causam haud dico,” I have no objection, Plaut. Mil. 5, 34; id. Capt. 3, 4, 92; Ter. Ph. 2, 1, 42.—
4. To describe, relate, sing, celebrate in writing (mostly poet.): “tibi dicere laudes,” Tib. 1, 3, 31; so, “laudes Phoebi et Dianae,” Hor. C. S. 76: “Dianam, Cynthium, Latonam,” id. C. 1, 21, 1: “Alciden puerosque Ledae,” id. ib. 1, 12, 25: “caelestes, pugilemve equumve,” id. ib. 4, 2, 19: “Pelidae stomachum,” id. ib. 1, 6, 5: “bella,” id. Ep. 1, 16, 26; Liv. 7, 29: “carmen,” Hor. C. 1, 32, 3; id. C. S. 8; Tib. 2, 1, 54: “modos,” Hor. C. 3, 11, 7: “silvestrium naturas,” Plin. 15, 30, 40, § 138 et saep.: “temporibus Augusti dicendis non defuere decora ingenia,” Tac. A. 1, 1; id. H. 1, 1: “vir neque silendus neque dicendus sine cura,” Vell. 2, 13.—
b. Of prophecies, to predict, foretell: “bellicosis fata Quiritibus Hac lege dico, ne, etc.,” Hor. C. 3, 3, 58: “sortes per carmina,” id. A. P. 403: “quicquid,” id. S. 2, 5, 59: “hoc (Delphi),” Ov. Tr. 4, 8, 43 et saep.—
5. To pronounce, articulate a letter, syllable, word: Demosthenem scribit Phalereus, cum Rho dicere nequiret, etc., Cic. Div. 2, 46, 96; id. de Or. 1, 61, 260; Quint. 1, 4, 8; 1, 7, 21 al.—
6. To call, to name: habitum quendam vitalem corporis esse, harmoniam Graii quam dicunt, Lucr. 3, 106; cf.: Latine dicimus elocutionem, quam Graeci φράσιν vocant, Quint. 8, 1, 1: “Chaoniamque omnem Trojano a Chaone dixit,” Verg. A. 3, 335: “hic ames dici pater atque princeps,” Hor. Od. 1, 2, 50: “uxor quondam tua dicta,” Verg. A. 2, 678 et saep. —Prov.: “dici beatus ante obitum nemo debet,” Ov. M. 3, 135.—
7. To name, appoint one to an office: “ut consules roget praetor vel dictatorem dicat,” Cic. Att. 9, 15, 2: so, “dictatorem,” Liv. 5, 9; 7, 26; 8, 29: “consulem,” id. 10, 15; 24, 9; 26, 22 (thrice): “magistrum equitum,” id. 6, 39: “aedilem,” id. 9, 46: “arbitrum bibendi,” Hor. Od. 2, 7, 26 et saep.—
8. To appoint, set apart. fix upon, settle: “nam mea bona meis cognatis dicam, inter eos partiam,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 113; cf. Pompon. ap. Non. 280, 19: “dotis paululum vicino suo,” Afran. ib. 26: “pecuniam omnem suam doti,” Cic. Fl. 35: quoniam inter nos nuptiae sunt dictae, Afran. ap. Non. 280, 24; cf.: “diem nuptiis,” Ter. And. 1, 1, 75: “diem operi,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 57: “diem juris,” Plaut. Men. 4, 2, 16: “diem exercitui ad conveniendum Pharas,” Liv. 36, 8; cf. id. 42, 28, and v. dies: “locum consiliis,” id. 25, 16: “leges pacis,” id. 33, 12; cf.: “leges victis,” id. 34, 57: “legem tibi,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 18; Ov. M. 6, 137; cf.: “legem sibi,” to give sentence upon one's self, id. ib. 13, 72: “pretium muneri,” Hor. C. 4, 8, 12 et saep.—With inf.: prius data est, quam tibi dari dicta, Pac. ap. Non. 280, 28. —Pass. impers.: “eodem Numida inermis, ut dictum erat, accedit,” Sall. J. 113, 6.—
9. To utter, express, esp. in phrases: “non dici potest, dici vix potest, etc.: non dici potest quam flagrem desiderio urbis,” Cic. Att. 5, 11, 1; 5, 17, 5: “dici vix potest quanta sit vis, etc.,” id. Leg. 2, 15, 38; Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 57, § 127; id. Or. 17, 55; id. Red. ad Quir. 1, 4; cf. Quint. 2, 2, 8; 11, 3, 85.—
10. (Mostly in colloq. lang.) Alicui, like our vulg. to tell one so and so, for to admonish, warn, threaten him: “dicebam, pater, tibi, ne matri consuleres male,” Plaut. As. 5, 2, 88; cf. Nep. Datam. 5; Ov. Am. 1, 14, 1.—Esp. freq.: “tibi (ego) dico,” I tell you, Plaut. Curc. 4, 2, 30; id. Bacch. 4, 9, 76; id. Men. 2, 3, 27; id. Mil. 2, 2, 62 et saep.; Ter. And. 1, 2, 33 Ruhnk.; id. ib. 4, 4, 23; id. Eun. 2, 3, 46; 87; Phaedr. 4, 19, 18; cf.: “tibi dicimus,” Ov. H. 20, 153; id. M. 9, 122; so, dixi, I have said it, i. e. you may depend upon it, it shall be done, Ter. Phorm. 2, 3, 90; 92.—
11. Dicere sacramentum or sacramento, to take an oath, to swear; v. sacramentum.
II. Transf., i. q. intellego, Gr. φημί, to mean so and so; it may sometimes be rendered in English by namely, to wit: “nec quemquam vidi, qui magis ea, quae timenda esse negaret, timeret, mortem dico et deos,” Cic. N. D. 1, 31, 86; id. de Or. 3, 44, 174: M. Sequar ut institui divinum illum virum, quem saepius fortasse laudo quam necesse est. At. Platonem videlicet dicis, id. Leg. 3, 1: “uxoris dico, non tuam,” Plaut. As. 1, 1, 30 et saep.—Hence, dictum , i, n., something said, i. e. a saying, a word.
A. In gen.: haut doctis dictis certantes sed male dictis, Enn. ap. Gell. 20, 10 (Ann. v. 274 Vahl.; acc. to Hertz.: nec maledictis); so, “istaec dicta dicere,” Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 40: “docta,” id. ib. 2, 2, 99; id. Men. 2, 1, 24; Lucr. 5, 113; cf. “condocta,” Plaut. Poen. 3, 2, 3: “meum,” id. As. 2, 4, 1: “ridiculum,” id. Capt. 3, 1, 22: “minimum,” Cic. Fam. 1, 9: “ferocibus dictis rem nobilitare,” Liv. 23, 47, 4 al.: “ob admissum foede dictumve superbe,” Lucr. 5, 1224; cf. “facete,” Plaut. Capt. 1, 2, 73; id. Poen. 3, 3, 24; Ter. Eun. 2, 2, 57; Cic. Off. 1, 29, 104 al.: “lepide,” Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 103: “absurde,” id. Capt. 1, 1, 3: “vere,” Nep. Alc. 8, 4: “ambigue,” Hor. A. P. 449 et saep.—Pleon.: “feci ego istaec dicta quae vos dicitis (sc. me fecisse),” Plaut. Casin. 5, 4, 17.—
B. In partic.
1. A saying, maxim, proverb: “aurea dicta,” Lucr. 3, 12; cf. “veridica,” id. 6, 24: Catonis est dictum. Pedibus compensari pecuniam, Cic. Fl. 29 fin. Hence, the title of a work by Caesar: Dicta collectanea (his Ἀποφθέγματα, mentioned in Cic. Fam. 9, 16), Suet. Caes. 56.—Esp. freq.,
2. For facete dictum, a witty saying, bon-mot, Enn. ap. Cic. de Or. 2, 54 fin. (cf. Cic. ap. Macr. S. 2, 1 fin.); Cic. Phil. 2, 17; Quint. 6, 3, 2; 16; 36; Liv. 7, 33, 3; Hor. A. P. 273 et saep.; cf. also, dicterium.—
3. Poetry, verse (abstr. and concr.): dicti studiosus, Enn. ap. Cic. Brut. 18, 71: “rerum naturam expandere dictis,” Lucr. 1, 126; 5, 56: “Ennius hirsuta cingat sua dicta corona,” Prop. 4 (5), 1, 61.—
5. An order, command: “dicto paruit consul,” Liv. 9, 41; cf. Verg. A. 3, 189; Ov. M. 8, 815: “haec dicta dedit,” Liv. 3, 61; cf. id. 7, 33; 8, 34; 22, 25 al.: dicto audientem esse and dicto audire alicui, v. audio.—