Lesson 13

Introduction

Today's lesson focuses on the demonstrative pronoun "is, ea, id" which is essential in legal Latin for precise reference to persons and things. This pronoun is particularly important in legal texts for its role in establishing clear antecedents and avoiding ambiguity.

Part A (Interleaved English and Latin Text)

13.1 Is he iūdex judge causam case audit hears

13.2 Ea she testis witness vērum truth dīcit speaks

13.3 Id it crīmen crime grave serious est is

13.4 Testēs witnesses eum him accūsant accuse

13.5 Iūdex judge eam her interrogat questions

13.6 Senātus senate id it dēcrētum decree probat approves

13.7 Populus people eī to him potestātem power dat gives

13.8 Praetor praetor eī to her iūstitiam justice prōmittit promises

13.9 Eō by that iūre law cīvēs citizens vīvunt live

13.10 Eōrum their testimōnia testimonies gravia weighty sunt are

13.11 Eārum their causae cases similēs similar sunt are

13.12 Cōnsul consul cum with eīs them dēlīberat deliberates

13.13 Eius his iūdicium judgment iūstum just est is

13.14 Eius her dēfēnsiō defense fortis strong est is

13.15 Ab from eō him lēgem law accipimus we receive

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Part B (Complete Sentences)

13.1 Is iūdex causam audit. That judge hears the case.

13.2 Ea testis vērum dīcit. That witness speaks the truth.

13.3 Id crīmen grave est. That crime is serious.

13.4 Testēs eum accūsant. The witnesses accuse him.

13.5 Iūdex eam interrogat. The judge questions her.

13.6 Senātus id dēcrētum probat. The senate approves that decree.

13.7 Populus eī potestātem dat. The people give power to him.

13.8 Praetor eī iūstitiam prōmittit. The praetor promises justice to her.

13.9 Eō iūre cīvēs vīvunt. The citizens live by that law.

13.10 Eōrum testimōnia gravia sunt. Their testimonies are weighty.

13.11 Eārum causae similēs sunt. Their cases are similar.

13.12 Cōnsul cum eīs dēlīberat. The consul deliberates with them.

13.13 Eius iūdicium iūstum est. His judgment is just.

13.14 Eius dēfēnsiō fortis est. Her defense is strong.

13.15 Ab eō lēgem accipimus. We receive the law from him.

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Part C (Latin Text Only)

13.1 Is iūdex causam audit.

13.2 Ea testis vērum dīcit.

13.3 Id crīmen grave est.

13.4 Testēs eum accūsant.

13.5 Iūdex eam interrogat.

13.6 Senātus id dēcrētum probat.

13.7 Populus eī potestātem dat.

13.8 Praetor eī iūstitiam prōmittit.

13.9 Eō iūre cīvēs vīvunt.

13.10 Eōrum testimōnia gravia sunt.

13.11 Eārum causae similēs sunt.

13.12 Cōnsul cum eīs dēlīberat.

13.13 Eius iūdicium iūstum est.

13.14 Eius dēfēnsiō fortis est.

13.15 Ab eō lēgem accipimus.

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Part D (Grammar Explanation)

For English speakers learning legal Latin, "is, ea, id" functions as both a demonstrative adjective ("that") and a personal pronoun ("he, she, it"). Its forms change based on: -

Gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) -

Number (singular, plural) -

Case (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, ablative)

Full Declension: 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 (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 points for legal usage: -

Clear antecedent reference is crucial in legal texts -

The genitive case (eius) is used for possession -

The ablative case with prepositions indicates agency or means

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Part E (Cultural Context)

In Roman legal texts, precise reference was crucial. The demonstrative pronoun "is, ea, id" played a vital role in: -

Legal Procedures: -

Identifying parties in a case -

Referring to specific laws or decrees -

Establishing clear chains of testimony -

Roman Law: -

Used in formal legal documents -

Essential in senate decrees -

Common in judicial proceedings -

Modern Legal Usage: -

Still used in legal Latin phrases -

Important in understanding historical law -

Relevant to modern civil law systems

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Part F (Literary Citation)

From Cicero's "Pro Cluentio" (66.188):

Part F-A (Interleaved Text)

Is he enim for libere freely accusāre to accuse potest is able quī who et both sine without perīculō danger et and cum with fidē faith testimōnium testimony dīcere to speak potest is able

Part F-B (Complete Translation)

Is enim libere accusāre potest quī et sine perīculō et cum fidē testimōnium dīcere potest. For he can freely accuse who can give testimony both without danger and with trust.

Part F-C (Literary Analysis)

This passage from Cicero's legal defense speech emphasizes the importance of trustworthy testimony in Roman courts. The use of "is" introduces the subject who has the moral and legal authority to make accusations.

Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)

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"Is" is nominative singular masculine -

Subject of both "potest" verbs -

Followed by relative clause with "quī" -

Uses legal technical vocabulary

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Genre Section: Legal Proceedings

Part A (Interleaved Text)

13.16 Is he reus defendant sē himself dēfendit defends contrā against accūsātōrēs the accusers

13.17 Ea she lēx law cīvēs citizens omnes all obligat binds

13.18 Praetor praetor id that edictum edict in in forō forum prōmulgat publishes

13.19 Iūdex judge eum him propter because of periūrium perjury pūnit punishes

13.20 Senātus senate eam her ob because of virtūtem virtue laudat praises

13.21 Cōnsul consul eī to him cīvitātem citizenship dat gives

13.22 Praetor praetor eī to her bonōrum of goods possessiōnem possession permittit permits

13.23 Testēs witnesses eō by that argūmentō argument convincuntur are convinced

13.24 Eōrum their testimōnia testimonies causa case nititur relies on

13.25 Eārum their līberī children hērēditātem inheritance petunt seek

13.26 Tribūnus tribune cum with eīs them dē about lēge law agit discusses

13.27 Eius his testāmentum will īnfirmum invalid est is

13.28 Eius her adoptio adoption lēgitima legal est is

13.29 Ab from eō him tabellae documents signātae signed sunt are

13.30 Ad to eōs them causa case dēfertur is referred

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Part B (Complete Sentences)

13.16 Is reus sē contrā accūsātōrēs dēfendit. That defendant defends himself against the accusers.

13.17 Ea lēx cīvēs omnēs obligat. That law binds all citizens.

13.18 Praetor id edictum in forō prōmulgat. The praetor publishes that edict in the forum.

13.19 Iūdex eum propter periūrium pūnit. The judge punishes him because of perjury.

13.20 Senātus eam ob virtūtem laudat. The senate praises her because of her virtue.

13.21 Cōnsul eī cīvitātem dat. The consul gives citizenship to him.

13.22 Praetor eī bonōrum possessiōnem permittit. The praetor permits her the possession of goods.

13.23 Testēs eō argūmentō convincuntur. The witnesses are convinced by that argument.

13.24 Eōrum testimōniīs causa nititur. The case relies on their testimonies.

13.25 Eārum līberī hērēditātem petunt. Their children seek the inheritance.

13.26 Tribūnus cum eīs dē lēge agit. The tribune discusses the law with them.

13.27 Eius testāmentum īnfirmum est. His will is invalid.

13.28 Eius adoptio lēgitima est. Her adoption is legal.

13.29 Ab eō tabellae signātae sunt. The documents are signed by him.

13.30 Ad eōs causa dēfertur. The case is referred to them.

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Part C (Latin Text Only) [continued]

13.16 Is reus sē contrā accūsātōrēs dēfendit.

13.17 Ea lēx cīvēs omnēs obligat.

13.18 Praetor id edictum in forō prōmulgat.

13.19 Iūdex eum propter periūrium pūnit.

13.20 Senātus eam ob virtūtem laudat.

13.21 Cōnsul eī cīvitātem dat.

13.22 Praetor eī bonōrum possessiōnem permittit.

13.23 Testēs eō argūmentō convincuntur.

13.24 Eōrum testimōniīs causa nititur.

13.25 Eārum līberī hērēditātem petunt.

13.26 Tribūnus cum eīs dē lēge agit.

13.27 Eius testāmentum īnfirmum est.

13.28 Eius adoptio lēgitima est.

13.29 Ab eō tabellae signātae sunt.

13.30 Ad eōs causa dēfertur.

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Part D (Grammar Explanation)

In legal proceedings, the demonstrative pronoun "is, ea, id" serves several crucial functions: -

Reference in Legal Documents: -

Identifying specific parties (reus, testēs) -

Referring to legal instruments (lēx, edictum) -

Marking precedents and prior decisions -

Legal Syntax Patterns: -

Ablative of means with eō (eō argūmentō) -

Genitive of possession (eius testāmentum) -

Dative of indirect object (eī cīvitātem) -

Common Legal Constructions: -

Ab + ablative for agency (ab eō signātae) -

Ad + accusative for jurisdiction (ad eōs dēfertur) -

Cum + ablative for procedural actions (cum eīs agit) -

Special Legal Usage: -

In formal accusations (is reus) -

In testimonial references (eōrum testimōnia) -

In inheritance law (eārum līberī) -

Word Order in Legal Latin: -

More rigid than literary Latin -

Demonstrative often precedes its noun -

Verbs commonly at end of clause

Key points for legal students: -

Precision in gender agreement is crucial -

Case usage must be exact -

Antecedents must be clear -

Legal formulae often use fixed patterns

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