Latin Legal Terms

The definition list below gives Latin to English translations for the most commonly used latin law terms.

A

Ab extra

Definition: From outside

Ab inito

Definition: From The beginning

Accessorius sequitur

Definition: One who is an accessory to the crime cannot be guilty of a more serious crime than the principal offender

Actus reus

Definition: A guilty deed or act

Ad hoc

Definition: For this purpose

Ad infinitum

Definition: For ever, without limit, To infinity

Alibi

Definition: At another place, Elsewhere

Aliunde

Definition: From elsewhere, or, from a different source

Amicus curiae

Definition: A friend of the court

Ante

Definition: Before

B

Bona Fide

Definition: Sincere, In good faith

Bona vacantia

Definition: Goods without an owner

C

Cadit quaestio

Definition: The matter admits of no further argument

Certiorari

Definition: Originally a writ from a High Court to a lower Court

Ceteris peribus

Definition: Other things being equal

Consensu

Definition: Unanimously or, by general consent

Consensus ad idem

Definition: Agreement as to the same things

Contra

Definition: To the contrary

Contra bonos mores

Definition: Contrary to good morals

Coram non judice

Definition: Before one who is not a judge

Corpus

Definition: Body

Corpus delicti

Definition: The body of the offence

Custos morum

Definition: A guardian of morals

D

De bonis asportatis

Definition: Of goods carried away

De die in diem

Definition: From day to day

De facto

Definition: In fact

De futuro

Definition: In the future

De integro

Definition: As regards the whole

De jure

Definition: Rightful, by right

De novo

Definition: Starting afresh

Doli incapax

Definition: Incapable of crime

Dominium

Definition: Ownership

Dubitante

Definition: Doubting the correctness of the decision

E

Ei incumbit probatio qui

Definition: The onus of proving a fact rests upon the man

Et cetera

Definition: Other things of that type

Ex cathedra

Definition: With official authority

Ex concessis

Definition: In view of what has already been accepted

Ex facie

Definition: On the fact of it

Ex gratia

Definition: Out of kindness, voluntary

Ex parte

Definition: Proceeding brought by one person in the absence of another

Ex post facto

Definition: By reason of a subsequent act

F

Faciendum

Definition: Something which is to be done

Factum

Definition: An act or deed

Fructus naturales

Definition: Vegetation which grows naturally without cultivation

I

Idem

Definition: The same person or thing

Id est (i.e)

Definition: That is

In camera

Definition: In private

In delicto

Definition: At fault

Indicia

Definition: Marks, signs

In esse

Definition: In existence

In extenso

Definition: At full length

In futoro

Definition: In the future

In limine

Definition: At the outset, on the threshold

In loco parentis

Definition: In place of the parent

In omnibus

Definition: In every respect

In pleno

Definition: In full

In situ

Definition: In its place

Inter alia

Definition: Amongst other things

Interium

Definition: Temporary, in the meanwhile

In terrorem

Definition: As a warning or deterrent

Ipsissima verba

Definition: The very words of a speaker

Ipso facto

Definition: By that very fact

J

Jus

Definition: A right that is recognised in law

Jus naturale

Definition: Natural justice

L

Locus in quo

Definition: Scene of the event

M

Magnum opus

Definition: A great work of literature

Mala fides

Definition: Bad faith

Mens rea

Definition: Guilty state of mind

N

Nemo dat quod non habet

Definition: On one can give a better title than he has

Nexus

Definition: Connection

Nisi

Definition: Unless

Non compus mentis

Definition: Not of sound mind and understanding

Non constat

Definition: It is not certain

Non est factum

Definition: It is not his deed

Non sequitur

Definition: An inconsistent statement, it does not follow

O

Onus probandi

Definition: Burden of proof

Orse

Definition: Otherwise

P

Par delictum

Definition: Equal fault

Pari passu

Definition: On an equal footing

Per curiam

Definition: In the opinion of the court

Per minas

Definition: By means of menaces or threats

Per quod

Definition: By reason of which

Post mortem

Definition: After death

Prima facie

Definition: On the face of it

Prima impressionis

Definition: On first impression

Pro hac vice

Definition: For this occasion

Pro rata

Definition: In proportion

Pro tanto

Definition: So far, to that extent

Pro tempore

Definition: For the time being

Publici juris

Definition: Of public right

Q

Quaere

Definition: Consider whether it is correct

Quaeitur

Definition: The question is raised

Quantum

Definition: How much, an amount

Quid pro quo

Definition: Consideration. something for something

R

Re

Definition: In the matter of

Res

Definition: Matter, affair, thing, circumstance

Res Gestae

Definition: The thing done

Res nulis

Definition: Nobody's property

S

Sciens

Definition: Knowingly

Secus

Definition: The legal position is different, it is otherwise

Se defendendo

Definition: In self defence

Stet

Definition: Do not delete, let it stand

Sub modo

Definition: Within limits

Sub nomine

Definition: Under the name of

Sub silentio

Definition: In silence

Suggestio falsi

Definition: The suggestion of something which is untrue

Sui generis

Definition: Unique

Suppressio veri

Definition: The suppression of the truth

T

Talis qualis

Definition: Such as it is

U

Uberrima fides

Definition: Good faith

Uno flatu

Definition: At the same moment, with one breath

V

Verbatim

Definition: Word by word, exactly

Vice versa

Definition: The other way around

Vide

Definition: See

Volens

Definition: Willing