videlicet

The abbreviation ''viz.'' (or ''viz'' without a full stop) is short for the Latin , which itself is a contraction of the Latin phrase ''videre licet'', meaning "it is permitted to see". It is used as a synonym for "namely", "that is to say", "to wit", "which is", or "as follows". It is typically used to introduce examples or further details to illustrate a point: for example, "all types of data ''viz.'' text, audio, video, pictures, graphics, can be transmitted through networking".

Etymology

''Viz.'' is shorthand for the Latin adverb using scribal abbreviation, a system of medieval Latin shorthand. It consists of the first two letters, ''vi'', followed by the last two, ''et'', using . With the adoption of movable type printing, the (then current) blackletter form of the letter , $\mathfrak$, was substituted for this symbol since few typefaces included it.

Usage

In contrast to '' i.e.'' and '' e.g.'', ''viz.'' is used to indicate a detailed description of something stated before, and when it precedes a list of group members, it implies (near) completeness.

* ''Viz.'' is usually read aloud as "that is", "namely", or "to wit",''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language'' (fourth edition, 2000), p. 1917. but is sometimes pronounced as it is spelled, viz.: .
* ''Videlicet'' is pronounced or in English-speaking countries.

Examples

* The intended meaning of his speech, ''viz.'' that our attitude was in fact harmful, was not understood.
* The later two problems, ''viz.'' his debt and his back pain, could not be so easily solved.
* "My grandfather had four sons who grew up, viz. Thomas, John, Benjamin and Josiah."
* The noble gases, viz. helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon, show an unexpected behaviour when exposed to this new element.

Compared with ''scilicet''

A similar expression is , from earlier , abbreviated as ''sc.'', which is Latin for "it is permitted to know." ''Sc.'' provides a parenthetic clarification, removes an ambiguity, or supplies a word omitted in preceding text, while ''viz.'' is usually used to elaborate or detail text which precedes it.

In legal usage, '' scilicet'' appears abbreviated as ''ss.'' It can also appear as a section sign (§) in a caption, where it is used to provide a statement of venue, that is to say a location where an action is to take place.

''Scilicet'' can be read as "namely," "to wit," or "that is to say," or pronounced in English-speaking countries, or also anglicized as .''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language'' (fourth edition, 2000), p. 1560.

See also

* Cf.
* See also (disambiguation)
* Sic
*

References

{{Reflist

Abbreviations
Latin words and phrases