lictor

[lik-ter]

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.

lictor

/ ˈlɪktə /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• lictorian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lictor¹

1580–90; < Latin; compare Middle English littoures

Word History and Origins

Origin of lictor¹

C16 lictor, C14 littour, from Latin ligāre to bind

Example Sentences

He might assume Lincoln had been a lictor, a Roman official who served as a sort of bodyguard to elected magistrates.

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Almachius, then, who dreaded the consequences of bringing so noble and courageous a victim to public execution, sent a lictor to behead her in her own palace, but he executed his office so ill, that she still lived after the third blow of his axe, after which the Roman law forbade that a victim should be stricken again.

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Plutarch says; “Such was the quantity of spices brought in by the women, at Sylla’s funeral, that, exclusive of those carried in two hundred and ten great baskets, a figure of Sylla at full length, and of a lictor besides, was made entirely of cinnamon, and the choicest frankincense.”

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I, lictor, manibusque audacibus injice vinc'la: Injecit lictor vincula, et arma dedit.

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Oleo parat urere lictor: Sed quem uri lictor credidit, unctus erat.

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