Have you ever wondered why the letter “c” is silent in the word “indict”? Interestingly, when the verb “indict” first appeared in Middle English in the early 14th century, it was spelled and pronounced without the letter “c.” This absence of the “c” can be traced back to its origins in Anglo-Norman and Old French.
The addition of the “c” in the spelling occurred in the early 17th century, influenced by the Anglo-Latin term “indictare,” which was used in medieval legal writings in England. However, “indictare” did not exist in Classical Latin, where a similar term, “indicare,” meant “to give evidence against.”
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the medieval legal term “indictare” was a Latinized version of the Anglo-Norman and Middle English verb, created in an attempt to make it appear more Latin. When “indict” first appeared in Middle English as “endyte” or “endite,” it meant “to bring a charge” or “to accuse someone of a crime.”
The evolution of the word “indict” over time is fascinating, reflecting the influences of different languages and scholarly interpretations. From its early Middle English origins to the addition of the silent “c” in the 17th century, the history of this word is a testament to the fluidity and complexity of language.
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