dulce et decorum est
/ˌdʌlsi ɛt dɪˌkɔːrəm ˈɛst/ /ˌdʊlkeɪ ɛt dɛˌkɔːrʊm ˈɛst/noun
The belief or ideology that to die in battle for one's country is glorious or noble.
noun
‘It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country.’ Used to assert (now frequently ironically) that to give one's life in this way is glorious or noble.
- In later use frequently with direct allusion to Wilfred Owen's First World War poem Dulce et Decorum est (1918), in which he satirically quotes Horace; see etymology..
Origin
Early 19th century; earliest use found in Lion. Short for classical Latin dulce et decōrum est prō patriā morī, lit. ‘it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country’ (Horace's Odes 3. 2. 13) from dulce, neuter of dulcis sweet + et and + decōrum, neuter of decōrus fitting + est, 3rd singular present indicative of esse to be + prō on behalf of + patriā, ablative of patria + morī to die.