dicto

Dicto is a Latin term used in scholarly contexts to mean “said” or “of what has been said.” It is not typically a standalone concept in modern English, but rather a component of fixed Latin phrases that appear in philosophy, logic, and rhetoric. The root dic- comes from dicere, “to say.”

In logic and argumentative theory, dicto occurs in expressions such as dicto simpliciter and dicto secundum quid. Dicto simpliciter refers to applying a general rule or universal proposition indiscriminately, without regard to qualifiers or exceptions. Dicto secundum quid, by contrast, means applying a rule in a way that is true only in certain cases or under specific circumstances. These terms are used to describe types of fallacies or misapplications in reasoning and are discussed in discussions of syllogistic and rule-based argumentation.

Beyond these formal uses, dicto also appears in related Latin formations that concern speaking or stated principles, such as dictum (a stated proposition or maxim) and dictio (the act of speaking or word choice). The Latin root remains common in scholarly English when examining classic texts, rhetorical devices, or historical debates.

Today, dicto is rarely used as a common English word outside academic writing. It is most often encountered when discussing Latin phrases that appear in philosophical, legal, or linguistic literature, or when analyzing the origins of words related to speech and assertion. See also dictum, dictio, dictare, and dictation.