indite

[ in-dahyt ]
See synonyms for indite on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),in·dit·ed, in·dit·ing.
  1. to compose or write, as a poem.

  2. to treat in a literary composition.

  1. Obsolete. to dictate.

  2. Obsolete. to prescribe.

Origin of indite

1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English enditen, from Old French enditer, from unattested Vulgar Latin indictāre, derivative of Latin indictus, past participle of indīcere “to announce, proclaim”; see in-2, dictum

Other words from indite

  • in·dite·ment, noun
  • in·dit·er, noun

Words that may be confused with indite

Words Nearby indite

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use indite in a sentence

  • He could converse with any number of persons, and indite a letter at the same time, without being in any wise confused.

    The Old Pike | Thomas B. Searight
  • Dear Sir,—I am with much pleasure to indite you about your name that has come to my hand with great joy.

  • Les derniers jours de la grande arme; ou, Souvenirs, documents, et correspondance indite de Napolon en 1814 et 1815.

    The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | William Milligan Sloane
  • The minor that wrote sonnets has only to come of age, and feel that he can indite a check, to be cured of his love fever.

    Sir Jasper Carew | Charles James Lever
  • It is not the climate I am inveighing against; it is the Gothic, diabolical ideas of the people I indite.

    Voyage of H.M.S. Pandora | Edward Edwards

British Dictionary definitions for indite

indite

/ (ɪnˈdaɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. archaic to write

  2. obsolete to dictate

Origin of indite

1
C14: from Old French enditer, from Latin indīcere to declare, from in- ² + dīcere to say

usage For indite

Indite and inditement are sometimes wrongly used where indict and indictment are meant: he was indicted (not indited) for fraud

Derived forms of indite

  • inditement, noun
  • inditer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012