Word of the Day

: July 6, 2009

scilicet

adverb SKEE-lih-ket

What It Means

: to wit, namely

scilicet in Context

"All appointments must be approved by the United States of America, scilicet, the President of the United States," stated the bill concerning the restructuring of the island's government.

Did You Know?

"Scilicet" is a rare word that most often occurs in legal proceedings and instruments. It is from Latin "scire" ("to know") and "licet" ("it is permitted"), which is also a root of "videlicet" -- a synonym of "scilicet." Licet," in turn, descends from the Latin verb "licēre," which means "to be permitted" and is the ultimate source of the English words "leisure" and "license." "Scire" has also made other contributions to English, giving us such words as "conscience," "conscious," and "science."