Post History
How did signification 1 beneath semantically shift to 2? I'm befuddled by the relevant of licit, because what does "permitted" here signify? Why would a Roman require permission to know so...
Question
Latin
#3: Post edited
by
PSTH
·
2021-08-20T06:52:17Z (over 2 years ago)
- 1. How did signification 1 beneath semantically shift to 2?
- 2. I'm befuddled by the relevant of _licit_, because what does "permitted" here signify? Why would a Roman require permission to know something?
- [_scilicet_ on Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=scilicet).
> late 14c., Latin, "you may know, you may be sure, it is certain," used in sense **[2.]** "that is to say, namely," contraction of **[1.]** _scire licit_ "it is permitted to know," from _scire_ "to know" (see [science](https://www.etymonline.com/word/science)); for second element see [licit](https://www.etymonline.com/word/licit). Used as was Old English _hit is to witanne_, literally "it is to wit" (see [wit](https://www.etymonline.com/word/wit) (v.)). Often abbreviated _sc._ or _scil_.
- 1. How did signification 1 beneath semantically shift to 2?
- 2. I'm befuddled by the relevant of _licit_, because what does "permitted" here signify? Why would a Roman require permission to know something?
- [_scilicet_ on Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=scilicet).
- > late 14c., Latin, "you may know, you may be sure, it is certain," used in sense **[2.]** "that is to say, namely," contraction of **[1.]** _scire licit_ "it is permitted to know,"
- from _scire_ "to know" (see [science](https://www.etymonline.com/word/science)); for second element see [licit](https://www.etymonline.com/word/licit).
- >
- >Used as was Old English _hit is to witanne_, literally "it is to wit" (see [wit](https://www.etymonline.com/word/wit) (v.)). Often abbreviated _sc._ or _scil_.
#2: Post edited
by
PSTH
·
2021-08-20T06:51:38Z (over 2 years ago)
How did signification 1 beneath semantically shift to 2? I quote [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=scilicet).- > late 14c., Latin, "you may know, you may be sure, it is certain," used in sense **[2.]** "that is to say, namely," contraction of **[1.]** _scire licit_ "it is permitted to know," from _scire_ "to know" (see [science](https://www.etymonline.com/word/science)); for second element see [licit](https://www.etymonline.com/word/licit). Used as was Old English _hit is to witanne_, literally "it is to wit" (see [wit](https://www.etymonline.com/word/wit) (v.)). Often abbreviated _sc._ or _scil_.
- 1. How did signification 1 beneath semantically shift to 2?
- 2. I'm befuddled by the relevant of _licit_, because what does "permitted" here signify? Why would a Roman require permission to know something?
- [_scilicet_ on Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=scilicet).
- > late 14c., Latin, "you may know, you may be sure, it is certain," used in sense **[2.]** "that is to say, namely," contraction of **[1.]** _scire licit_ "it is permitted to know," from _scire_ "to know" (see [science](https://www.etymonline.com/word/science)); for second element see [licit](https://www.etymonline.com/word/licit). Used as was Old English _hit is to witanne_, literally "it is to wit" (see [wit](https://www.etymonline.com/word/wit) (v.)). Often abbreviated _sc._ or _scil_.
#1: Initial revision
by
PSTH
·
2021-08-20T03:34:00Z (over 2 years ago)
scilicet: How did 'it is permitted to know' semantically shift to signify 'that is to say, namely'?
How did signification 1 beneath semantically shift to 2? I quote [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=scilicet). > late 14c., Latin, "you may know, you may be sure, it is certain," used in sense **[2.]** "that is to say, namely," contraction of **[1.]** _scire licit_ "it is permitted to know," from _scire_ "to know" (see [science](https://www.etymonline.com/word/science)); for second element see [licit](https://www.etymonline.com/word/licit). Used as was Old English _hit is to witanne_, literally "it is to wit" (see [wit](https://www.etymonline.com/word/wit) (v.)). Often abbreviated _sc._ or _scil_.