veto (ve to)

[F. veto, def.), 1st pers. pres. ind. act. of vetare, (see def.), forbid, prohibit, oppose, hinder.] 1. In a constitutional government, the right vested in one branch of it to negative the determinations of another branch; specifically, the right, under constitutional restrictions, of the executive, as a king, a president, or a governor, to reject a bill pa ed by the legislature; also, the act of exercising this right. This power is often traced to the privilege enjoyed by the Roman tribunes of annulling or suspending any measures of the senate, decree of a magistrate, etc., the word veto (I forbid) having been at least occasionally used by the tribune in such a case. This power of the tribunes was properly called interce io. The attempt on the part of Louis XVI. of France 6743