Latin today · Abbreviations · Science & academia
Videlicet
“it is permitted to see; namely”
Abbreviation: viz.
Meaning
What does “Videlicet” mean?
Videlicet says "here is precisely what I mean". Unlike e.g., which gives examples, viz. gives the complete, specific items.
In real life
Where you meet it
In formal reports, legal documents, older books and academic writing.
Example
“Videlicet” in a sentence
Three countries met the target, viz. Denmark, Finland and Sweden.
Origin
Where the word comes from
Videlicet is a contraction of videre licet, "one may see". The odd "z" in viz. is not a letter: it comes from a medieval scribal sign used to shorten the ending -et, which looked like a z.
Pronunciation
How to say it
Usual Englishvih-DEL-ih-set
Classical Latinwi-DE-li-ket
Good to know
Common mistakes
- Viz. introduces a complete list; e.g. introduces examples. Don’t mix them up.
- It is often clearer simply to write "namely".
- Write it with a full stop: viz.
- Latin
- Videlicet
- Abbreviation
- viz.
- Literally
- it is permitted to see; namely
- Used in
- Abbreviations, Science & academia
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