| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Ex’ecrate (3 syl.). | | |
To many Roman laws this tag was appended, “If any one breaks this law, sacer esto,” i.e. let his body, his family, and his goods be consecrated to the gods. When a man was declared sacer, anyone might kill him with impunity. Anyone who hurt a tribune was held a sacer to the goddess Cer s. Ex in this word is intensitive. | 1 |
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“If anyone hurt a tribune in word or deed, he was held accursed [sacer], and his goods were confiscated.”—Livy, iii. 55; see also Dionysius, vi. 89, and viii. 17. |
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