The Only Use of

dictum

in

Fahrenheit 451

There was no dictum, no declaration, no censorship, to start with, no!
p. 55.4

dictum = formal pronouncement

Definition:

a short saying intended to make a point

in various senses, including:

a popular saying -- such as "Nothing is certain but death and taxes."
a formal declaration from a respected source -- such as the Constitution's statement that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech"
a non-binding remark in a judge's opinion -- short for obiter dictum