← Latin for Lawyers, Judges and Notaries Public
12.1 Is he iūdex judge causam case audit hears
12.2 Ea she lēge by law agit acts
12.3 Id it testāmentum will signum seal habet has
12.4 Videō I see eum him in in forō forum iūdiciālī judicial
12.5 Praetor praetor eam her causam case cognōscit investigates
12.6 Servus slave id it documentum document portat carries
12.7 Eī to him crīmen charge obiciunt they bring
12.8 Cōnsul consul eī to her auctōritātem authority dat gives
12.9 Eō by that iūre law cīvitās state regitur is ruled
12.10 Eōrum their testimōnia testimonies vera true sunt are
12.11 Eārum their līberōrum children tūtēla guardianship lēge by law dēfīnītur is defined
12.12 Iūrisperītus lawyer cum with eīs them dē about contractū contract dēlīberat deliberates
12.13 Eius his sententia opinion iūsta just est is
12.14 Eius her possessiō possession lēgitima legal est is
12.15 Ab from eō him responsum response exspectāmus we await
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12.1 Is iūdex causam audit. That judge hears the case.
12.2 Ea lēge agit. She acts according to law.
12.3 Id testāmentum signum habet. That will has a seal.
12.4 Videō eum in forō iūdiciālī. I see him in the court forum.
12.5 Praetor eam causam cognōscit. The praetor investigates that case.
12.6 Servus id documentum portat. The slave carries that document.
12.7 Eī crīmen obiciunt. They bring a charge against him.
12.8 Cōnsul eī auctōritātem dat. The consul gives her authority.
12.9 Eō iūre cīvitās regitur. The state is ruled by that law.
12.10 Eōrum testimōnia vera sunt. Their testimonies are true.
12.11 Eārum līberōrum tūtēla lēge dēfīnītur. The guardianship of their children is defined by law.
12.12 Iūrisperītus cum eīs dē contractū dēlīberat. The lawyer deliberates with them about the contract.
12.13 Eius sententia iūsta est. His opinion is just.
12.14 Eius possessiō lēgitima est. Her possession is legal.
12.15 Ab eō responsum exspectāmus. We await a response from him.
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12.1 Is iūdex causam audit.
12.2 Ea lēge agit.
12.3 Id testāmentum signum habet.
12.4 Videō eum in forō iūdiciālī.
12.5 Praetor eam causam cognōscit.
12.6 Servus id documentum portat.
12.7 Eī crīmen obiciunt.
12.8 Cōnsul eī auctōritātem dat.
12.9 Eō iūre cīvitās regitur.
12.10 Eōrum testimōnia vera sunt.
12.11 Eārum līberōrum tūtēla lēge dēfīnītur.
12.12 Iūrisperītus cum eīs dē contractū dēlīberat.
12.13 Eius sententia iūsta est.
12.14 Eius possessiō lēgitima est.
12.15 Ab eō responsum exspectāmus.
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The demonstrative pronoun "is, ea, id" is essential in Latin legal writing. For English speakers, understanding its declension and usage is crucial:
Singular: -
Nominative: is (m), ea (f), id (n) -
Genitive: eius (all genders) -
Dative: eī (all genders) -
Accusative: eum (m), eam (f), id (n) -
Ablative: eō (m/n), eā (f)
Plural: -
Nominative: eī/iī (m), eae (f), ea (n) -
Genitive: eōrum (m/n), eārum (f) -
Dative: eīs (all genders) -
Accusative: eōs (m), eās (f), ea (n) -
Ablative: eīs (all genders)
Key uses in legal Latin: -
Reference to previously mentioned parties -
Indicating specific legal documents or procedures -
Establishing clear legal relationships -
Distinguishing between multiple parties in a case
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For English-speaking law students, understanding "is, ea, id" requires appreciating Roman legal culture: -
Precision in Legal Language: -
Romans developed exact legal terminology -
Clear referents were crucial in legal documents -
Pronouns helped avoid ambiguity in legal texts -
Legal Documentation: -
Written records were essential in Roman law -
Precise reference to parties and documents -
Clear identification in court proceedings -
Modern Legal Usage: -
Still used in modern legal Latin -
Important in international law -
Common in legal citations and terminology
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From Gaius' Institutes (1.1):
Omnēs all populī peoples quī who lēgibus by laws et and mōribus customs reguntur are ruled partim partly suō propriō by their own partim partly commūnī by the common omnium of all hominum men iūre law ūtuntur use
Omnēs populī quī lēgibus et mōribus reguntur partim suō propriō, partim commūnī omnium hominum iūre ūtuntur.
All peoples who are governed by laws and customs use partly their own law, partly the law common to all men.
This passage from Gaius' Institutes demonstrates the fundamental Roman understanding of universal and particular law. The use of pronouns helps establish clear relationships between peoples and their legal systems.
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"quī" - relative pronoun referring to "populī" -
"suō" - possessive adjective emphasizing ownership -
"omnium" - genitive plural showing possession -
Use of ablative case in "lēgibus et mōribus"
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12.16 Is that testis witness sub under iūreiūrandō oath vēritātem truth dīcit speaks
12.17 Ea that lēx law dē concerning pecūniīs money matters repetundīs to be recovered lāta passed est is
12.18 Id that crīmen crime gravissimam most severe poenam punishment merētur deserves
12.19 Praetor praetor eum him in into possessiōnem possession bonōrum of the goods mittit sends
12.20 Iūdex judge eī to him diem day dīcit appoints
12.21 Ab from eā her tutor guardian ratiōnēs accounts petit demands
12.22 Eius his testimōnium testimony falsum false esse to be probātur is proven
12.23 Eōrum their herēditās inheritance testāmentō by will dīvīsa divided est is
12.24 Cum with eīs them dē about bonōrum of goods cessiōne transfer agit he deals
12.25 Id that negōtium business ante before īdūs the Ides cōnficiendum to be completed est is
12.26 Is that contractus contract signō with seal tabellōnis of notary confirmātus confirmed est is
12.27 Ea that causā case ad to superiōrem higher iūdicem judge appellāta appealed est is
12.28 Eārum their facultātum properties inventārium inventory cōnficitur is made
12.29 Eius his auctōritās authority lēge by law dēfinīta defined est is
12.30 In in eō that iūdiciō trial multī many testēs witnesses audiendī to be heard sunt are
12.16 Is testis sub iūreiūrandō vēritātem dīcit. That witness speaks the truth under oath.
12.17 Ea lēx dē pecūniīs repetundīs lāta est. That law concerning the recovery of money has been passed.
12.18 Id crīmen gravissimam poenam merētur. That crime deserves the most severe punishment.
12.19 Praetor eum in possessiōnem bonōrum mittit. The praetor puts him in possession of the goods.
12.20 Iūdex eī diem dīcit. The judge appoints a day for him.
12.21 Ab eā tutor ratiōnēs petit. The guardian demands accounts from her.
12.22 Eius testimōnium falsum esse probātur. His testimony is proven to be false.
12.23 Eōrum herēditās testāmentō dīvīsa est. Their inheritance has been divided by will.
12.24 Cum eīs dē bonōrum cessiōne agit. He deals with them about the transfer of goods.
12.25 Id negōtium ante īdūs cōnficiendum est. That business must be completed before the Ides.
12.26 Is contractus signō tabellōnis confirmātus est. That contract has been confirmed with the notary's seal.
12.27 Ea causā ad superiōrem iūdicem appellāta est. That case has been appealed to a higher judge.
12.28 Eārum facultātum inventārium cōnficitur. An inventory of their properties is being made.
12.29 Eius auctōritās lēge dēfinīta est. His authority is defined by law.
12.30 In eō iūdiciō multī testēs audiendī sunt. In that trial many witnesses must be heard.
12.16 Is testis sub iūreiūrandō vēritātem dīcit.
12.17 Ea lēx dē pecūniīs repetundīs lāta est.
12.18 Id crīmen gravissimam poenam merētur.
12.19 Praetor eum in possessiōnem bonōrum mittit.
12.20 Iūdex eī diem dīcit.
12.21 Ab eā tutor ratiōnēs petit.
12.22 Eius testimōnium falsum esse probātur.
12.23 Eōrum herēditās testāmentō dīvīsa est.
12.24 Cum eīs dē bonōrum cessiōne agit.
12.25 Id negōtium ante īdūs cōnficiendum est.
12.26 Is contractus signō tabellōnis confirmātus est.
12.27 Ea causā ad superiōrem iūdicem appellāta est.
12.28 Eārum facultātum inventārium cōnficitur.
12.29 Eius auctōritās lēge dēfinīta est.
12.30 In eō iūdiciō multī testēs audiendī sunt.
The legal genre section demonstrates specific uses of "is, ea, id" in Roman law: -
Technical Legal Usage: -
Referring to specific legal documents (contracts, wills) -
Identifying parties in legal proceedings -
Indicating particular laws or statutes -
Referencing specific court decisions or rulings -
Case Functions in Legal Context: -
Nominative: Identifying subjects of legal actions Example: "Is testis" (that witness) as subject -
Genitive: Showing possession or connection Example: "Eius testimōnium" (his testimony) -
Dative: Indicating indirect objects in legal transactions Example: "Eī diem dīcit" (appoints a day for him) -
Accusative: Marking direct objects of legal actions Example: "Eum in possessiōnem mittit" (puts him in possession) -
Ablative: Used with prepositions in legal phrases Example: "Ab eā" (from her) -
Special Legal Constructions: -
Gerundive constructions: "audiendī sunt" (must be heard) -
Passive periphrastic: "cōnficiendum est" (must be completed) -
Perfect passive participles: "lāta est" (has been passed) -
Ablative absolute constructions -
Legal formulaic phrases -
Word Order in Legal Latin: -
More rigid than literary Latin -
Emphasizes clarity over style -
Places key legal terms in prominent positions -
Maintains consistent patterns for legal formulae -
Agreement Patterns: -
Gender agreement with legal terms -
Number agreement in formal legal phrases -
Case agreement in complex legal constructions
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