vĭdēlĭcet, adv. [contr. from videre licet; cf. scilicet from scire licet; v. scilicet init.; prop. it is easy to see, to comprehend], serving, like scilicet, to confirm and complete what precedes (but with the difference that scilicet indicates rather the false, and videlicet the true explanation; v. Zumpt, Lat. Gram. § 345 n.); it is easy to see, it is clear or evident, clearly, plainly, evidently, manifestly, etc. (class., but much less freq. than scilicet).
I Lit.
A In gen.
α With obj.-clause on account of videre (only ante- and post-class.; for in Cic. Att. 5, 11, 7, the better read. is datae): videlicet, parcum illum fuisse senem, qui dixerit ... Videlicet fuisse illum nequam adulescentem, etc., Plaut. Stich. 4, 1, 49 and 51: esse videlicet in terris primordia rerum, Lucr. 1, 210: sed videlicet, eum vocabula rerum ignoravisse, Gell. 17, 5, 9.—
β As a mere particle: nunc enim est Negotiosus interdius: videlicet Solon est, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 9: videlicet propter divitias inditum id nomen quasi est, id. Capt. 2, 2, 36: hic de nostris verbis errat videlicet, Quae hic sumus locuti, Ter. Heaut. 263: quae videlicet ille non ex agri consiturā, sed ex doctrinae indiciis interpretabatur, Cic. Rep. 1, 17, 29: nihil dolo factum, ac magis calliditate Jugurthae, cui videlicet speculanti iter suum cognitum esset, Sall. J. 107, 3.—
γ Ellipt., in replies: quid metuebant? Vim videlicet, Cic. Caecin. 15, 44: quid horum se negat fecisse? Illud videlicet unum, quod necesse est, pecuniam accepisse, id. Verr. 2, 2, 33, § 80: qui eorum ... quorum? Videlicet qui supra scripti sunt, id. Clu. 54, 148.—
B In partic., it is easy to see , it is very plain , of course , forsooth , in an ironical or sarcastic sense, when the contrary is intended: tuus videlicet salutaris consulatus, perniciosus meus, Cic. Phil. 2, 6, 15: homo videlicet timidus et permodestus (Catilina) vocem consulis ferre non potuit, id. Cat. 2, 6, 12: itaque censuit pecunias eorum publicandas, videlicet timens, ne, etc., Sall. C. 52, 14.—
II Transf., as a mere complementary or explanatory particle, to wit , namely (class.; whereas scilicet in this sense is only post-Aug.): caste jubet lex adire ad deos, animo videlicet, Cic. Leg. 2, 10, 24: venisse tempus iis, qui in timore fuissent, conjuratos videlicet dicebat, ulciscendi se, id. Sest. 12, 28; cf. id. Rep. 1, 38, 60: quale de Homero scribit Ennius, de quo videlicet saepissime vigilans solebat cogitare et loqui, id. ib. 6, 10, 10.