fetial

[ fee-shuhl ]

adjective

1. concerned with declarations of war and treaties of peace:

   fetial law.

fetial

/ ˈfiːʃəl /

noun

1. (in ancient Rome) any of the 20 priestly heralds involved in declarations of war and in peace negotiations

adjective

1. of or relating to the fetiales
2. a less common word for heraldic

Word History and Origins

Origin of fetial¹

1525–35; < Latin fētiālis pertaining to a fētiālis, a member of the Roman college of priests who acted as representatives in disputes with foreign nations

Word History and Origins

Origin of fetial¹

C16: from Latin fētiālis , probably from Old Latin fētis treaty

Example Sentences

The treaty was then signed and handed over to the keeping of the fetial college.

From Project Gutenberg

The fetial, who on that occasion represented the Roman people, at the solemn moment of the oath-taking, struck the sacrificial pig with the silex, saying as he did so, 'Do thou, Diespiter, strike the Roman people as I strike this pig here to-day, and strike them the more, as thou art greater and stronger.'

From Project Gutenberg