indiction

American  

[in-dik-shuhn] / ɪnˈdɪk ʃən /

noun

1. a proclamation made every 15 years in the later Roman Empire, fixing the valuation of property to be used as a basis for taxation.

2. a tax based on such valuation.

3. Also called cycle of indiction.  the recurring fiscal period of 15 years in the Roman Empire, long used for dating ordinary events.

4. a specified year in this period.

5. the number indicating it.

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indiction British  

/ ɪnˈdɪkʃən /

noun

1. a recurring fiscal period of 15 years, often used as a unit for dating events

2. a particular year in this period or the number assigned it

3. 1. a valuation of property made every 15 years as a basis for taxation

   2. the tax based on this valuation

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Other Word Forms

• indictional adjective

Etymology

Origin of indiction

1350–1400; Middle English indiccio ( u ) n < Latin indictiōn- (stem of indictiō ) announcement, equivalent to indict ( us ) past participle of indīcere to announce, proclaim + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

“Which perhaps gives an indiction about how eventful his life would become,” White concludes.

From The Guardian • Feb. 4, 2017

If star power is any indiction of Montreal’s bid to bring a team back to Quebec, then momentum seems to be building.

From The Guardian • Aug. 22, 2014

This oath was given the fifteenth day of August, indiction XIII, the twenty-third year of the reign of our lord Justinian, the ninth year after the consulship of the illustrious Basil.

From A Source Book for Ancient Church History by Ayer, Joseph Cullen

The first of the three openings is marked "Ind. Rom." or "Roman indiction," which was an edict by the Emperor Constantine in A.D.

From The Borghesi Astronomical Clock in the Museum of History and Technology Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper 35, the Smithsonian Institution United States National Museum Bulletin 240 by Bedini, Silvio A.

Two winged youths take their place next to Iris, carrying the Julian period: namely, the Roman indiction, the cycle of the sun and the golden number, on a leaf of paper held between them.

From The Borghesi Astronomical Clock in the Museum of History and Technology Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper 35, the Smithsonian Institution United States National Museum Bulletin 240 by Bedini, Silvio A.