indite

[in-dahyt]

verb (used with object), in·dit·ed, in·dit·ing.

to compose or write, as a poem.

to treat in a literary composition.

Obsolete. to dictate.

Obsolete. to prescribe.

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for inditement

Historical Examples of inditement

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)

archaic to write

obsolete to dictate

Derived Formsinditement, nouninditer, noun

Word Origin for indite

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

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

indite

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.