Vicit

Vicit is a Latin verb form meaning “he conquered” or “he has conquered.” It is the third-person singular perfect active indicative of vincere, the verb meaning to conquer or to win. The perfect tense expresses a completed action in the past, or a result retained in the present, and vicit is used therefore to state that a conquest occurred at a specific time or that a victory has been achieved.

Morphology and usage: In the paradigm of vincere, vicit represents the 3rd person singular in the perfect active. Other forms in the same tense include vici (I conquered) and vicimus (we conquered). The form shows that the subject performed the action of conquering and that the action is viewed as finished from the perspective of the clause containing vicit. Latin writers commonly employ vicit in narratives of war, competition, or achievement, where a single victor or a decisive result is described.

Historical and textual notes: Vicit appears frequently in classical Latin literature and inscriptions to report military or symbolic victories. It is often found in conjunction with explicit agents, places, or enemies, such as a general or commander conquering opposing forces. In poetry and prose, vicit can contribute to concise, event-focused narration, especially in reports of battles, campaigns, or swift triumphs.

Example: Dux vicit hostes. Translation: The general conquered the enemies.

Related forms and related terms: vincere (to conquer), victoria (victory), vincō as the present tense source verb. The perfect form vicit contrasts with the imperfect and pluperfect alternatives to situate the action in different temporal contexts.