lictor

American  

[lik-ter] / ˈlɪk tər /

noun

1. (in ancient Rome) one of a body of attendants on chief magistrates, who preceded them carrying the fasces and whose duties included executing the sentences of criminals.

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lictor British  

/ ˈlɪktə /

noun

1. one of a group of ancient Roman officials, usually bearing fasces, who attended magistrates, etc

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Other Word Forms

• lictorian
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of lictor

1580–90; < Latin; compare Middle English littoures

Example Sentences

As Benito Mussolini prepared to christen a private plane at Rome's Lictor airport, his portly, placid wife Rachele Mussolini forbade him to break the champagne bottle on the propeller.

From Time Magazine Archive

Lictor, apostrophised by Cassiodorus in his 'Indulgentia,' xi.

From The Letters of Cassiodorus Being A Condensed Translation Of The Variae Epistolae Of Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator by Hodgkin, Thomas

Lictor, proclaim this in the market-place, And see it executed out of hand.

From A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 7 by Various

Lictor, lik′tor, n. an officer who attended the Roman magistrates, bearing an axe and bundle of rods.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

A Lictor is sent to arrest Publilius Volero.

From The Comic History of Rome by Becket, Gilbert Abbott ?