Enuntio

Enuntio (Latin: enuntiare, enuntio, enuntiata, enuntiatum) is a verb of classical Latin that means "to proclaim," "to announce," or "to declare." The term is derived from the root enuntere, which itself is composed of en- (into, toward) and nuntio (to bring news). The word appears in many Latin texts from the Republican to the Imperial period, often used in contexts where an official or orator makes a formal statement to an audience. In literature it is typically associated with speeches, judicial pronouncements, or governmental decrees.

The infinitive form enuntiare is regularly conjugated in the standard Latin verb paradigms. In the present indicative first person singular, the form is enuntiō. The participle forms include the present participle enuntiāns (proclaiming) and the perfect participle enuntiātus (having proclaimed). In contemporary Romance languages the influence of enuntio can be seen in verbs such as Spanish anunciar and Italian annunciare, reflecting its historical role in the evolution of Indo-European languages describing public proclamation.

Enuntio is notable in classical rhetoric for its function as a technical term distinguishing official announcement from mere conversation. It is used in legal Roman documents where the speaker declares something to a magistrate or court. The related noun enuntiatio also appears occasionally, meaning an "announcement" or "declaration." This word therefore occupies an important place in the study of ancient rhetorical and legal texts, serving as a key lexical item for scholars of Latin language, literature, and civil procedure.