fiat
/ˈfaɪæt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.63 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An arbitrary or authoritative command or order to do something; an effectual decree.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
An authority for certain proceedings given by the Lord Chancellor's signature.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
An automobile manufactured by the Italian firm Fiat S.p.A.
Example Sentences
- "A royal fiat."
- "A presidential fiat."
- "The reflection that the fate of a fellow-creature depended on his sole fiat, would naturally inspire scrupulousness and caution; [...]"
- "Beatrice raised her head: she looked at me as if on my words hung the fiat of life or death, fear and earnestness dilating her dark eyes—for an unconfessed hope had arisen within her."
- "It must be an absolute fiat - something of the nature of a Mystery or of Religion or Magic - and not to be disputed."
- "The increases from December 4 in the prices of table d'hôte meals in British Railways restaurant cars were expected, in view both of a general upward trend in meal prices in the catering trade and of the fiat that train meals must pay for themselves."
Etymology
From Latin fīat (“let it be done”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *bʰuH-, -, FIAT