videlicet

English

Alternative forms

• viz., vizt.,vid., videl.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin vidēlicet, which itself is a contraction of vidēre licet, meaning "it is permitted to see".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vɪˈdɛlɪsɛt/

Often read out in translation as namely or to wit instead.

Adverb

videlicet (not comparable)

1. Namely, to wit, that is to say (used when clarifying or naming the preceding item or topic)
   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:

     Videlicet,a Brothell, or ſo forth.

   • 1993, Anthony Burgess, A Dead Man in Deptford‎^[1], →ISBN:

     — […] My father did speak much of the day he was not speedily to forget, videlicet May Day of 1517, when there was great apprentice rioting against insolent foreigners.

Usage notes

Where videlicet is carefully distinguished from scilicet, viz. is used to provide glosses and sc. to provide omitted words or parenthetic clarification.

Synonyms

• See namely

Latin

Alternative forms

• viꝫ (abbreviation, Medieval Latin)

Etymology

A contraction of vidēre licet (“[it] is permitted to see”). Cf. scīlicet.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [wɪˈdeː.lɪ.kɛt]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [viˈdɛː.li.t͡ʃet]

Adverb

vidēlicet (not comparable)

1. namely; to wit; that is to say
   • c. 1300, Tractatus de Ponderibus et Mensuris:

     Per Ordinacionem tocius regni Anglie fuit mensura Domini Regis composita videlicet quod denarius qui vocatur sterlingus rotundus & sine tonsura ponderabit triginta duo grana frumenti in medio Spice.

     Per Ordinance of the whole realm of England the measure of the King is composed namely of a penny, which is called a sterling, round & without clipping, weighs thirty-two grains of wheat in the middle of the Ear.

2. clearly, evidently
3. one may see or it may be seen, it is evident, obviously, plainly, manifestly, naturally, of course

References

• “videlicet”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “videlicet”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “videlicet”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• https://logeion.uchicago.edu/videlicet