lictor

American  

[lik-ter] / ˈlɪk tər /

noun

1. (in ancient Rome) one of a body of attendants on chief magistrates, who preceded them carrying the fasces and whose duties included executing the sentences of criminals.

---

lictor British  

/ ˈlɪktə /

noun

1. one of a group of ancient Roman officials, usually bearing fasces, who attended magistrates, etc

---

Other Word Forms

• lictorian
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of lictor

1580–90; < Latin; compare Middle English littoures

Example Sentences

As Benito Mussolini prepared to christen a private plane at Rome's Lictor airport, his portly, placid wife Rachele Mussolini forbade him to break the champagne bottle on the propeller.

From Time Magazine Archive

Lictor, lik′tor, n. an officer who attended the Roman magistrates, bearing an axe and bundle of rods.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Next he proceeded to Athens, where in concession to that ancient city, allied to Rome, he would use but one Lictor.

From The Reign of Tiberius, Out of the First Six Annals of Tacitus; With His Account of Germany, and Life of Agricola by Gordon, Thomas

You also have your Lictor, but the axe is carried behind you.

From Essays in Rebellion by Nevinson, Henry W.

Lictor, drive them hence with rods— I care for none of these things!

From Songs from Books by Kipling, Rudyard