Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

indite

[in-dahyt]
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.
  3. Obsolete. to dictate.
  4. Obsolete. to prescribe.
Show More

Origin of indite

1325–75; Middle English enditen < Old French enditer < Vulgar Latin *indictāre, derivative of Latin indīctus past participle of indīcere to announce, proclaim. See in-2, dictum
Related formsin·dite·ment, nounin·dit·er, noun
Can be confusedindict indite
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for inditement

Historical Examples

  • Reade his Inditement, let him heare What hees to trust to: Boy, give eare!

    Pastoral Poetry and Pastoral Drama

    Walter W. Greg

British Dictionary definitions for inditement

indite

verb (tr)
  1. archaic to write
  2. obsolete to dictate
Show More
Derived Formsinditement, nouninditer, noun

Word Origin

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

usage

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

Word Origin and History for inditement

n.

1560s, "action of writing prose or verse," from indite + -ment.

Show More

indite

v.

late 14c., "put down in writing," from Old French enditer, from Vulgar Latin *indictare, from Latin in- "in, into, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + dictare "to declare" (see dictate). The same word as indict but retaining a French form. Related: Indited; inditing.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper