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

You also have your Lictor, but the axe is carried behind you.

From Essays in Rebellion by Nevinson, Henry W.

As the two men, stripped save for their loincloths, approached the wrestling-ring, cheers and counter-cheers burst from their adherents, some favouring the Lictor for his Roman blood, some the Greek from their own private grudge.

From The Last of the Legions and Other Tales of Long Ago by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir

Next he proceeded to Athens, where in concession to that ancient city, allied to Rome, he would use but one Lictor.

From The Reign of Tiberius, Out of the First Six Annals of Tacitus; With His Account of Germany, and Life of Agricola by Gordon, Thomas

What we learn of the Centurion, the Triumvir, and the Lictor, is very trifling.

From Deformities of Samuel Johnson, Selected from his Works by Anonymous