Dixit

/ˈdɪksɪt/ noun

Definition

A Latin phrase meaning 'he or she said,' often used in writing to attribute a quote or statement to someone.

Etymology

From Latin 'dixisse,' the perfect infinitive of 'dicere' (to say). The word appears frequently in academic and religious texts as a way to cite sources or authorities. It evolved as a scholarly convention to credit statements to specific speakers or writers.

Kelly Says

Medieval scholars loved using 'dixit' to show off their Latin knowledge while citing church fathers and philosophers—it's basically the academic footnote of the past, allowing them to respectfully nod to authorities without interrupting their own writing flow.

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