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obiter dictum
o-buh-tur DIK-tuhm
noun
an offhand comment; a non-binding judgment
1876Asa GrayDarwinianaThe writer presumes, moreover (but this is an obiter dictum), that the peculiarity originated long after flounders had fixed the habit of swimming on one side (and in this particular case it is rather difficult to see how the two may have gone on pari passu), and so he cuts away all obvious occasion for the alteration through the summation of slight variations in one direction, each bringing some advantage.1919John GalsworthyThe Burning SpearDon't take that down,' he added quickly, 'we are all subject to moments of weakness. It was just an 'obiter dictum'.'1965James A. MichenerThe SourceHe was about to offer an obiter dictum but apparently thought better of it…

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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