ipse dixit

n.
An unsupported assertion, usually by a person of standing; a dictum.

[From Latin ipse dīxit, he himself said (it) : ipse, he himself + dīxit, third person sing. perfect tense of dīcere, to say.]

(IP-see DIK-sit)

noun
An assertion without supporting proof.

Etymology
From Latin, literally, he himself said it

The term ipse dixit is the Latin equivalent of the Greek autos epha, referring to Pythagoras, as in, The master (Pythagoras) said it so it must be true and no proof is needed. In our modern world, this has many forms:
Child: Why do I have to go to bed at eight every day? Parent: Because I said it.
Employee: Why do we have to do this project if it's going to be scrapped anyway? Boss: Because I said it.

Usage
"The state had relied so heavily upon the ipse dixit that `it is a nuisance because I say it is,' the Supreme Court could not as a matter of law say whether a nuisance in fact existed." — A Two-Front Battle For Property Rights; Christian Science Monitor (Boston, Massachusetts); Sep 18, 1992.

"Nor was it what the framers of the Indiana Constitution intended. Even though the state held a constitutional convention in 1850-51 to repair what even back then was a sargassum sea of ipse dixits, nobody paid any attention." — Ruth Holladay; Ruth Holladay Column; The Indianapolis Star (Indiana); Jul 29, 2003.

---

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

[Latin, He himself said it.] An unsupported statement that rests solely on the authority of the individual who makes it.

A court decision, for example, that is in conflict with a particular statute might be said to have no legal support with the exception of the ipse dixit of the court.

Unproven assertion resting on the speaker's authority (literally He himself said)

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: an unsupported dogmatic assertion
  Synonym: ipsedixitism

---