dictum

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An authoritative, often formal pronouncement: "He cites Augustine's dictum that 'If you understand it, it is not God'” ( Joseph Sobran).
2. n. Law See obiter dictum.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A positive or judicial assertion; an authoritative saying.
2. n. In law, an opinion of a judge which does not embody the resolution or determination of the court, and is made without argument, or full consideration of the point, and is not the professed deliberate determination of the judge himself.
3. n. In logic, that part of a modal proposition which consists of the proposition to which the modality is applied.
4. n. Synonyms Aphorism, Axiom, Maxim, etc. See aphorism.

Wiktionary

1. n. An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; a maxim, an apothegm.
2. n. A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it.
3. n. The report of a judgment made by one of the judges who has given it.
4. n. An arbitrament or award.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; an apothegm.
2. n. A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it.
3. n. (French Law) The report of a judgment made by one of the judges who has given it.
4. n. An arbitrament or award.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. an authoritative declaration
2. n. an opinion voiced by a judge on a point of law not directly bearing on the case in question and therefore not binding