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.

---

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

---

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

Once in fifteen years, a Roman indiction, an assessor would go round to levy upon the products of the soil, and the assessment was made according to the amount of the yield.

From The Revelation Explained by Smith, F. G. (Frederick George)

The remainder of the taxes, according to the proportions determined by the annual indiction, was furnished in a manner still more direct, and still more oppressive.

From History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 2 by Milman, Henry Hart

Hence, to know the year of indiction is useless for determining the date in old documents of State.

From The Divine Office by Quigley, Edward J.