Something uttered or spoken; a pronouncement, saying, or utterance that carries weight or authority.
From Latin 'effatum,' the past participle of 'effari' (to speak out, say fully). The 'ex-' prefix emphasizes speaking fully or completely, giving the utterance formal significance.
In medieval Latin theological texts, 'effatum' specifically referred to divine utterances—the formal pronouncements of God or authority figures. This shows how certain words became specialized vessels for carrying weight in specific intellectual traditions.
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