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