Glossary of Latin Terms Expert knowledge means success Contents 1. Latin Terms 6. Latin Maxims 39. Further Information Glossary of Latin Terms • Annus Horribilis - a horrible year. Latin Terms We have compiled this glossary of Latin terms. • Ante – before: An indication within text We also publish several other glossaries as well to refer to an earlier passage. (See Post – check our website or call us for details. for the opposite of Ante) • A Priori – From the caue to the effect: Below are common Latin terms and their from the antecedent to the consequent. 1 meaning . • A.R. – Anno Regni: the year of the • Ab Extra - approximately translating to reign. "from without" or "from outside". • Bona Fide - in good faith: A Bona Fide • Ab initio (ab init) - from the Agreement is one entered into beginning: Sometimes means breaking genuinely without attempt to fraud. The long-running contracts results in opposite is Mala Fides (in bad faith). In contracts having been broken from the company law, this usually implies an start. If a term or condition of a amount of trust that the parties are contract was illegal or invalid when it acting without any hidden or ulterior was signed, then the contract was void motive. "ab initio". • Bona Vacantia - vacant property: • Accessorius Sequitur – one who is an Denotes the absence of any known accessory to the crime cannot be guilty person entitled to the estate of a of a more serious crime than the deceased person. For example, an principal offender. owner dies with no heirs, or a company is struck off without all property being • Actus Reus – a guilty act: The offence distributed. If a contract becomes void of which the defendant is accused. and property cannot become restored • A.D. - Anno Domini: in the year of our to an owner it can also occur. In the UK Lord. any such property belongs to the • Ad Absurdum - to the point of crown. Expensive proceedings are needed to get it back. absurdity. • Cadit Quaestio - the question falls: • Ad Colligenda Bona - to collect the This is a legal term used to indicate goods: A temporary order for the that a settlement to a dispute or issue Administration of an estate of a has been reached, and is now resolved. deceased person used when the estate In journalism, the abbreviation "CQ" is is of a perishable nature. used to indicate that a fact, such as the • Ad Hoc - for this purpose: Ad Hoc spelling of a name, has been checked decisions are made as and when a and found to be correct. situation demands:- Ad Hoc • Caveat - beware/take care/warning: committees are formed to address a An entry in the court records that particular issue. Ad Hoc meetings would effectively prevents action by another take place to discuss specific matters. party without first notifying the party • Ad Idem - of same mind: ie as one; entering the Caveat. agreed, the parties are ad idem on this • Caveat Emptor - let the buyer point. beware: This general rule refers to the • Ad Infinitum - without limit: describes buyer being responsible for finding out an event apparently continuing without if what they are buying is what they end. want. Certain information must be • Ad Litem - for the suit: Denotes a declared and disclosed to consumers temporary appointment which under consumer regulations. Insurance continues during legal proceedings ie contracts need to be covered by Guardian Ad Litem. Uberrima Fides but many are covered by the caveat emptor rule. In contract • Ad Nauseam - to a sickening extent. law it is generally up to the buyer to • Aliunde - from another place/source, find out if what they are buying is what from elsewhere: As, where there is they want. Consumer regulations ambiguity, and the meaning/intention require certain information to be of the parties is not part of or derivable disclosed to buyers and insurance from the document or instrument itself. contracts are covered by the Uberrima Fides (utmost good faith) but many • Alter Ego - other (alternative) self. types of business contracts are covered • Amicus Curiae - a friend of the court: by the caveat emptor rule. A neutral party who does not represent • Certiorari - to be informed of, or to be any individual party in the case who will made certain in regard to: A writ of be asked by the Court to make certiorari means an order by a higher representations from an independent court directing a lower court, tribunal, viewpoint. or public authority to send the record in • a given case for review. 1 1 Glossary of Latin Terms • • Ceteris Paribus - literally translated De Die In Diem - from day to day: as meaning "with other things the Usage - The workers are paid de die in same": It is commonly rendered in diem . English as "all other things being • De Facto - in fact: As a matter of fact. equal." A prediction, or a statement Opposite of De Jure. Having a practical about causal or logical connections effect differing from the legally between two states of affairs, is accepted or expected situation. An qualified by ceteris paribus in order to example is a person deliberately or acknowledge, and to rule out, the negligently giving the impression of a possibility of other factors which could company director, can be treated as the override the relationship between the de facto director. Any agreements or antecedent and the consequent. statements they make will bind the • Cogito Ergo Sum - I think, therefore I company as if a properly appointed am. director made them. • • Compos Mentis - of sound mind: De Futuro - in the future: Usually used Legally fit to conduct/defend in the context of "at a future time". proceedings. • De Integro – means “as regards the • Consensu – agreement reached whole”. unanimously or, by general consent. • De Jure - by right: According to the • Consensus Ad Idem - an agreement law. on an idea: Parties to the contract must • De Minimus - short for De Minimis Non all be in agreement on the basis of the Curat Lex: the law does not concern contract. If any party thinks differently itself with trifles. It means that the law then consensus has not been reached does not concern itself with small or and the contract is void. insignificant issues. • Contra – against, contrary or opposed • De Novo - to start afresh: Starting a to: In business, a transaction to swap new contract on the same basis as the goods or services; in accounting, an old. entry that cancels another entry. • Doli Incapax - incapable of crime. • Contra Bonos Mores – contrary to • Dominium – ownership. good morals; harmful to public morality. • Dnatio Mortis Causa – a gift in expectation of imminent death: A legal • Cor (Coram) - in the presence of. concept where a person in imminent • Coram Non Judice - before one who is mortal danger need not meet the not a judge: Typically used to indicate a requisite consideration to create or legal proceeding without a judge, with modify a will. improper venue, or without jurisdiction. • Dubitante - doubting the correctness • Corporalis Injuria Non Recipit of the decision. Aestimationem De Futuro - a • Duces Tecum - bring with you: An personal injury does no receive Order to produce a document in court. satisfaction from a future course of proceeding. • Ei Incumbit Probatio Qui – the onus of proving a fact rests upon the man. • Corpus – means “body”. • E Pluribus Unum - one from many. • Corpus Delicti – means "body of crime": It is a term from Western • Erratum - An error. jurisprudence which refers to the • Et Cetera (abbreviated to etc.) - principle that it must be proven that a 'and the rest': In modern usage, also crime has occurred before a person can used to mean 'and so on' or 'and more'. be convicted of committing the crime. • For example, a person cannot be tried Ex Concessis - in view of what has for larceny unless it can be proven that already been accepted. property has been stolen. Likewise, in • Exempli Gratia (abbreviated to eg) order for a person to be tried for arson - for example: Used when qualifying a it must be proven that a criminal act statement by explaining through a resulted in the burning of a property. relevant example from a greater list. • Custos Morum – means "a guardian of Compare with Id Est (ie) meaning “that morals": For example, a censor. is” or “such as” - which indicates a full definitive list of all possibilities. • De Bonis Non Administratis - of • goods not administered: A person Ex Gratia - as a matter of favour: An appointed to administer an estate Ex Gratia payment would be awarded following the death of the original without the acceptance of any liability administrator. or blame on the part of the giver or receiver. 2 2 Glossary of Latin Terms • • Ex Officio - by virtue of his office: A In Omnibus - In every respect. magistrate sitting with a judge at the • In Personam - against the person: Crown Court would appear ex officio in Proceedings issued against or with a case where no judicial function is to reference to a specific person - an be exercised by the magistrate eg case admiralty action in personam would be committed to Crown Court for sentence issued against the owner of a ship Killings in Latin only. • In Pleno - In full • Filicide is the killing • Ex Parte - by a party: An ex parte of a child by his or • In Situ - In its place application is made to the Court during her parent). • proceedings by one party in the • In Re - in the matter of: A heading in Foeticide is the legal documents which introduces the killing of a foetus. absence of another or without notifying • Fratricide is the act the other party.