dictums
Authoritative spoken rulings
Dictums is the plural of dictum, a formal pronouncement or authoritative statement: The judge issued several dictums on courtroom procedure.
Dictums often carry weight because of who speaks them rather than their inherent truth.
The word can also refer to commonly accepted sayings or maxims: old dictums about hard work and thrift.
The Latin plural dicta appears in legal and academic writing.
Traditional pithy truth
- aphorismTerse general truth
- sayingShort, wise expression
- maximBrief moral principle
- truismStatement needing no proof
epigram · axiom · platitude · precept · motto · byword · apothegm · gnome
Held principle or doctrine
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- preceptRule governing behavior
- beliefTrust held as true
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
teaching · philosophy · creed · ideology · ethic · guideline · canon · article
Authoritative public command
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- directiveFormal command or instruction
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
fiat · diktat · ukase · proclamation · pronouncement · injunction · imperative · ultimatum
adage
Traditional pithy truth
truism · epigram · axiom · platitude · precept · motto · byword · apothegm · gnome · saw
tenet
Held principle or doctrine
dogma · teaching · philosophy · creed · ideology · ethic · guideline · canon · article · rule
edict
Authoritative public command
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- directiveFormal command or instruction
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
command · fiat · diktat · ukase · proclamation · pronouncement · injunction · imperative · ultimatum · rule
- proverbsproverbs, sayings, maxims, adages, aphorisms
- folk wisdomproverb, folklore, folk sayings, saying, proverbs
- sayingssayings, saying, proverb, proverbs, adage
- wisdomwisdom, sagacity, sapience, discernment, insight
- Wisdom & Wordsfamous quotes, wise sayings, maxims, aphorisms, proverbs
- wisdom sayingsproverbs, sayings, adages, maxims, aphorisms
dictumssuggestions
Proposed ideas or advice
recommendations · proposals · requests · entreaties · appeals
dictumsasides
Remarks to audience only
chitchat · small talk · banter · quips · wisecracks
dictumsguidelines
Suggested rules for behavior
rules of thumb · loose guidelines · approximations · working hypotheses