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.

---

lictor British  

/ ˈlɪktə /

noun

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

---

Other Word Forms

• lictorian
  adjective

---

Etymology

Origin of lictor

1580–90; < Latin; compare Middle English littoures

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lictor

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

From Washington Post ● Oct. 1, 2022

Arriving at his house, he forbad his lictor to knock, as was usual, at the door; and paid homage to philosophy, by lowering the fasces at the abode of Posidonius.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels - Volume 18 Historical Sketch of the Progress of Discovery, Navigation, and Commerce, from the Earliest Records to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century, By William Stevenson by William Stevenson

In ancient Rome, a lictor dark An axe before the consul bore; Thou hast a lictor too, but mark!

From Anarchism A Criticism and History of the Anarchist Theory by Ernst Viktor Zenker

Go, lictor," he said, "bind those hands which but a little while since, being armed, established sovereignty for the Roman people.

From Roman Women by Alfred Brittain

The young man seeing him at a distance would not endure this slight, but sent a lictor to bid his father dismount and come on foot, if he wanted anything of the consul.

From Plutarch's Lives, Volume I by Aubrey Stewart

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---