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Q&A How did 'videlicet' (it's permissible to see) semantically shift 🢂 to signify 'to wit, namely'?

How did meaning 1 beneath semantically shift to 2? How does seeing or sight 🡲 semantically appertain to wit or knowledge? viz. 1530s, abbreviation of videlicet [2.] "that is to say, to wit, nam...

1 answer · posted 3y ago by PSTH‭ · edited 2y ago by PSTH‭

Question etymology Latin

#5: Post edited by

PSTH‭ · 2022-07-03T20:37:58Z (over 2 years ago)

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~~videlicet : How did 'it's permissible to see' semantically shift to signify 'to wit, namely'?~~

How did 'videlicet' (it's permissible to see) semantically shift 🢂 to signify 'to wit, namely'?

~~How did meaning 1 beneath semantically shift to 2? How does *seeing or sight* ⟶ semantically appertain to ***wit or knowledge***?~~
>## [viz.](https://www.etymonline.com/word/viz.?ref=etymonline_crossreference)
>
> 1530s, abbreviation of videlicet **[2.]** "that is to say, to wit, namely" (mid-15c.),
from Latin _videlicet_, contraction of _videre licet_ **[1.]** "it is permissible to see,"
from _videre_ "to see" (see [vision](https://www.etymonline.com/word/vision?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _licet_ "it is allowed," third person singular present indicative of _licere_ "be allowed" (see [licence](https://www.etymonline.com/word/licence?ref=etymonline_crossreference)).
The -z- is not a letter, but originally a twirl, representing the usual Medieval Latin shorthand symbol for the ending -et. "In reading aloud usually rendered by 'namely.' " [OED]
</section>

How did meaning 1 beneath semantically shift to 2? How does *seeing or sight* 🡲 semantically appertain to ***wit or knowledge***?
>## [viz.](https://www.etymonline.com/word/viz.?ref=etymonline_crossreference)
>
> 1530s, abbreviation of videlicet **[2.]** "that is to say, to wit, namely" (mid-15c.),
from Latin _videlicet_, contraction of _videre licet_ **[1.]** "it is permissible to see,"
from _videre_ "to see" (see [vision](https://www.etymonline.com/word/vision?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _licet_ "it is allowed," third person singular present indicative of _licere_ "be allowed" (see [licence](https://www.etymonline.com/word/licence?ref=etymonline_crossreference)).
The -z- is not a letter, but originally a twirl, representing the usual Medieval Latin shorthand symbol for the ending -et. "In reading aloud usually rendered by 'namely.' " [OED]
</section>

#4: Post edited by

PSTH‭ · 2021-12-05T22:23:30Z (almost 3 years ago)

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~~'videlicet': How did “it is permissible to see” semantically shift to signify “to wit, namely”?~~

videlicet : How did 'it's permissible to see' semantically shift to signify 'to wit, namely'?

#3: Post edited by

PSTH‭ · 2021-12-05T22:22:59Z (almost 3 years ago)

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How did signification 1 beneath semantically shift to 2? [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/viz.?ref=etymonline_crossreference):
~~>### viz.~~
>
> 1530s, abbreviation of videlicet **[2.]** "that is to say, to wit, namely" (mid-15c.),
from Latin _videlicet_, contraction of _videre licet_ **[1.]** "it is permissible to see,"
from _videre_ "to see" (see [vision](https://www.etymonline.com/word/vision?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _licet_ "it is allowed," third person singular present indicative of _licere_ "be allowed" (see [licence](https://www.etymonline.com/word/licence?ref=etymonline_crossreference)).
The -z- is not a letter, but originally a twirl, representing the usual Medieval Latin shorthand symbol for the ending -et. "In reading aloud usually rendered by 'namely.' " [OED]
</section>

How did meaning 1 beneath semantically shift to 2? How does *seeing or sight* ⟶ semantically appertain to ***wit or knowledge***?
>## [viz.](https://www.etymonline.com/word/viz.?ref=etymonline_crossreference)
>
> 1530s, abbreviation of videlicet **[2.]** "that is to say, to wit, namely" (mid-15c.),
from Latin _videlicet_, contraction of _videre licet_ **[1.]** "it is permissible to see,"
from _videre_ "to see" (see [vision](https://www.etymonline.com/word/vision?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _licet_ "it is allowed," third person singular present indicative of _licere_ "be allowed" (see [licence](https://www.etymonline.com/word/licence?ref=etymonline_crossreference)).
The -z- is not a letter, but originally a twirl, representing the usual Medieval Latin shorthand symbol for the ending -et. "In reading aloud usually rendered by 'namely.' " [OED]
</section>

#2: Post edited by

PSTH‭ · 2021-08-20T03:36:01Z (over 3 years ago)

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~~'videlicet': How did “it is permissible to see” semantically shift to signify “that is to say”?~~

'videlicet': How did “it is permissible to see” semantically shift to signify “to wit, namely”?

#1: Initial revision by

PSTH‭ · 2021-08-20T03:35:50Z (over 3 years ago)

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'videlicet': How did “it is permissible to see” semantically shift to signify “that is to say”?

How did signification 1 beneath semantically shift to 2? [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/viz.?ref=etymonline_crossreference):

>### viz. 
>
>    1530s, abbreviation of videlicet **[2.]** "that is to say, to wit, namely" (mid-15c.),     
from Latin _videlicet_, contraction of _videre licet_ **[1.]** "it is permissible to see,"      
from _videre_ "to see" (see [vision](https://www.etymonline.com/word/vision?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _licet_ "it is allowed," third person singular present indicative of _licere_ "be allowed" (see [licence](https://www.etymonline.com/word/licence?ref=etymonline_crossreference)).     
The -z- is not a letter, but originally a twirl, representing the usual Medieval Latin shorthand symbol for the ending -et. "In reading aloud usually rendered by 'namely.' " [OED]
</section>

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