omerta
pronunciation
How to pronounce omerta in British English:
UK [əʊmə'tɑ:]
How to pronounce omerta in American English:
US [ˌoʊmer'tɑ]
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- Noun:
- a code of silence practiced by the Mafia; a refusal to give evidence to the police about criminal activities
Word Origin
- omerta (n.)
- 1909, from dialectal form of Italian umilta "humility," in reference to the code of submission of individuals to the group interest, from Latin humilitas (see humility).
Example
- 1. Godfather mafia irony omerta distorted justice misused power .