dictum
UK/'diktəm/US/'diktәm/
TOEFLGREC2
Definitions
n.
An authoritative or formal statement; a saying or principle
格言，权威声明
n.
(law) a judge's remark that is not essential to the decision
（法律）附带意见
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedLatin dictum is literally 'a thing said' — the neuter past participle of dīcere taken straight into English. So a dictum is, word for word, 'something stated' — a pronouncement people quote as authoritative.
Root dic still carries 82 more wordsExample Sentences
- 1.
He lived by the old dictum that honesty is the best policy.
- 2.
The judge's comment was only a dictum, not part of the binding ruling.