← Latin for Lawyers, Judges and Notaries Public
Today's lesson focuses on the versatile word "ut" which has multiple important uses in legal Latin. We will explore its use: -
As a conjunction meaning "as" with the indicative -
As a conjunction meaning "so that" or "in order that" with the subjunctive -
In questions meaning "how" or "in what way" -
In exclamations meaning "how!" or "to what extent!"
14.1 Iūdex the judge imperat orders ut that testēs the witnesses vērum the truth dīcant should speak
14.2 Praetor the praetor rogat asks ut how reus the defendant sē himself dēfendat defends
14.3 Ut just as lēx the law iubet commands, ita so faciēmus we shall do
14.4 Cōnsul the consul postulat demands ut that senātus the senate conveniat should meet
14.5 Videāmus let us see ut how causam the case dīcās you plead
14.6 Ut as testis the witness dīxit said, crīmen the crime manifestum evident est is
14.7 Iūdex the judge vult wants ut that lēgēs the laws servēmus we should observe
14.8 Ut how perītus skilled advocātus the advocate est is!
14.9 Custōdēs the guards cūrant take care ut that reus the defendant nōn not effugiat should escape
14.10 Ut as in in lēgibus the laws scrīptum written est is, ita so iūdicābimus we shall judge
14.11 Senātus the senate dēcernit decrees ut that nova new lēx law scrībātur should be written
14.12 Quaerāmus let us ask ut how īus justice reddendum to be rendered sit may be
14.13 Ut how gravis serious haec this causa case est is!
14.14 Cōnsulēs the consuls ēdīcunt proclaim ut that cīvēs the citizens conveniant should assemble
14.15 Ut as mōs custom maiōrum of the ancestors docet teaches, sīc thus agēmus we shall act
14.1 Iūdex imperat ut testēs vērum dīcant. The judge orders that the witnesses should speak the truth.
14.2 Praetor rogat ut reus sē dēfendat. The praetor asks how the defendant defends himself.
14.3 Ut lēx iubet, ita faciēmus. As the law commands, so shall we do.
14.4 Postulat cōnsul ut senātus conveniat. The consul demands that the senate should meet.
14.5 Videāmus ut causam dīcās. Let us see how you plead the case.
14.6 Crīmen manifestum est, ut testis dīxit. The crime is evident, as the witness said.
14.7 Iūdex vult ut lēgēs servēmus. The judge wants us to observe the laws.
14.8 Ut perītus advocātus est! How skilled the advocate is!
14.9 Custōdēs cūrant ut reus nōn effugiat. The guards take care that the defendant does not escape.
14.10 Ut in lēgibus scrīptum est, ita iūdicābimus. As it is written in the laws, so shall we judge.
14.11 Senātus dēcernit ut nova lēx scrībātur. The senate decrees that a new law should be written.
14.12 Quaerāmus ut īus reddendum sit. Let us ask how justice should be rendered.
14.13 Ut gravis haec causa est! How serious this case is!
14.14 Cōnsulēs ēdīcunt ut cīvēs conveniant. The consuls proclaim that the citizens should assemble.
14.15 Ut mōs maiōrum docet, sīc agēmus. As the custom of our ancestors teaches, thus shall we act.
14.1 Iūdex imperat ut testēs vērum dīcant.
14.2 Praetor rogat ut reus sē dēfendat.
14.3 Ut lēx iubet, ita faciēmus.
14.4 Postulat cōnsul ut senātus conveniat.
14.5 Videāmus ut causam dīcās.
14.6 Crīmen manifestum est, ut testis dīxit.
14.7 Iūdex vult ut lēgēs servēmus.
14.8 Ut perītus advocātus est!
14.9 Custōdēs cūrant ut reus nōn effugiat.
14.10 Ut in lēgibus scrīptum est, ita iūdicābimus.
14.11 Senātus dēcernit ut nova lēx scrībātur.
14.12 Quaerāmus ut īus reddendum sit.
14.13 Ut gravis haec causa est!
14.14 Cōnsulēs ēdīcunt ut cīvēs conveniant.
14.15 Ut mōs maiōrum docet, sīc agēmus.
The conjunction "ut" is essential in legal Latin and has four main uses: -
Purpose/Result Clauses (ut + subjunctive) -
Expresses purpose ("in order that") or result ("so that") -
Always takes the subjunctive mood -
Common with verbs of commanding, decreeing, ordering Example: "imperat ut testēs vērum dīcant" (orders that the witnesses speak the truth) -
Comparative Clauses (ut + indicative) -
Means "as, just as" -
Takes the indicative mood -
Often paired with "ita" or "sīc" in the main clause Example: "ut lēx iubet, ita faciēmus" (as the law commands, so shall we do) -
Indirect Questions (ut + subjunctive) -
Means "how" or "in what way" -
Takes the subjunctive mood Example: "rogat ut reus sē dēfendat" (asks how the defendant defends himself) -
Exclamatory Uses -
Expresses surprise or emphasis -
Takes the indicative mood Example: "ut perītus advocātus est!" (how skilled the advocate is!)
Common Constructions in Legal Latin: -
ut + subjunctive following verbs of ordering (imperāre, ēdīcere) -
ut + subjunctive following verbs of decreeing (dēcernere, statuere) -
ut + subjunctive following verbs of arranging (cūrāre, vidēre)
Understanding "ut" is crucial for comprehending Roman legal texts because: -
Legal Procedure -
Romans formalized legal procedures through specific formulae -
Many legal actions required specific forms of commands or decrees -
The subjunctive with "ut" was essential in official pronouncements -
Legal Documentation -
Written laws used "ut" clauses to specify requirements -
Legal precedents were often recorded using comparative "ut" clauses -
Court proceedings were documented using indirect questions with "ut" -
Historical Development -
Early Roman law relied heavily on formal language -
The precision of "ut" constructions helped avoid ambiguity -
Legal Latin influenced later European legal systems -
Modern Relevance -
Many modern legal terms derive from these constructions -
Understanding "ut" helps interpret historical legal documents -
Modern civil law systems still use similar constructions
From Cicero's "Pro Cluentio" (148):
Ut as in in corporibus bodies magnae great dissimilitudines differences sunt are, sic so in in animis minds existunt exist maiores greater etiam even varietates varieties
"Ut in corporibus magnae dissimilitudines sunt, sic in animis existunt maiores etiam varietates." Just as there are great differences in bodies, so in minds there exist even greater varieties.
Cicero uses a comparative construction with "ut...sic" to draw a parallel between physical and mental differences. This construction was common in legal argumentation to establish analogies.
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"ut" introduces a comparative clause with indicative "sunt" -
"sic" in the main clause responds to "ut" -
Parallel structure emphasizes the comparison -
Present tense used for general truths
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14.16 Praetor the praetor ēdīxit proclaimed ut that omnēs all cīvēs citizens in in forō the forum adrōgātiōnī for the adrogation adessent should be present
14.17 Advocātus the advocate postulat demands ut that documenta documents omnium of all bonōrum goods exhibeantur should be produced
14.18 Ut as lēx the law duodecim twelve tabulārum tables docet teaches, dēbitōrēs debtors in into partēs parts secārī to be cut possunt can
14.19 Iūdex the judge quaerit inquires ut how testāmentum the will ā by testibus witnesses signātum signed sit was
14.20 Ut how iniqua unjust haec this sententia verdict vidētur seems!
14.21 Senātūs the senate cēnsuit decided ut that novae new tabulae records fierent should be made
14.22 Ut as mōs custom est is in in rē matter pūblicā public, prōcōnsul the proconsul negōtium business prōvinciae of the province cūrat manages
14.23 Cōnsulēs the consuls mandant order ut that iūstitium suspension of courts indicātur should be declared
14.24 Videāmus let us see ut how hae these lēgēs laws inter among sē themselves congruant agree
14.25 Ut as iūris of law perītī experts respondērunt have responded, possessiō possession bonōrum of goods trādenda to be handed over est is
14.26 Praefectus the prefect iubet orders ut that ratiōnēs accounts pūblicae public īnspiciantur should be examined
14.27 Ut as in in lēge law Aquilia Aquilian scrīptum written est, damnum damage compensandum to be compensated est is
14.28 Tribūnus the tribune postulat demands ut that intercessiō veto sua his in in tabulās records pūblicās public referātur should be recorded
14.29 Ut how sevēra strict haec this poena penalty ex according to lēge law Cornēliā Cornelian est is!
14.30 Magistrātus the magistrate cūrat ensures ut that testāmenta wills in in tabulāriō archive pūblicō public custōdiantur should be kept
14.16 Praetor ēdīxit ut omnēs cīvēs in forō adrōgātiōnī adessent. The praetor proclaimed that all citizens should be present in the forum for the adrogation.
14.17 Advocātus postulat ut documenta omnium bonōrum exhibeantur. The advocate demands that documents of all goods should be produced.
14.18 Ut lēx duodecim tabulārum docet, dēbitōrēs in partēs secārī possunt. As the law of the twelve tables teaches, debtors can be cut into pieces.
14.19 Iūdex quaerit ut testāmentum ā testibus signātum sit. The judge inquires how the will was signed by the witnesses.
14.20 Ut iniqua haec sententia vidētur! How unjust this verdict seems!
14.21 Senātūs cēnsuit ut novae tabulae fierent. The senate decided that new records should be made.
14.22 Ut mōs est in rē pūblicā, prōcōnsul negōtium prōvinciae cūrat. As is the custom in the republic, the proconsul manages the business of the province.
14.23 Cōnsulēs mandant ut iūstitium indicātur. The consuls order that a suspension of the courts should be declared.
14.24 Videāmus ut hae lēgēs inter sē congruant. Let us see how these laws agree among themselves.
14.25 Ut iūris perītī respondērunt, possessiō bonōrum trādenda est. As the legal experts have responded, possession of the goods must be handed over.
14.26 Praefectus iubet ut ratiōnēs pūblicae īnspiciantur. The prefect orders that the public accounts should be examined.
14.27 Ut in lēge Aquilia scrīptum est, damnum compensandum est. As is written in the Aquilian law, damage must be compensated.
14.28 Tribūnus postulat ut intercessiō sua in tabulās pūblicās referātur. The tribune demands that his veto should be recorded in the public records.
14.29 Ut sevēra haec poena ex lēge Cornēliā est! How strict this penalty is according to the Cornelian law!
14.30 Magistrātus cūrat ut testāmenta in tabulāriō pūblicō custōdiantur. The magistrate ensures that wills should be kept in the public archive.
14.16 Praetor ēdīxit ut omnēs cīvēs in forō adrōgātiōnī adessent.
14.17 Advocātus postulat ut documenta omnium bonōrum exhibeantur.
14.18 Ut lēx duodecim tabulārum docet, dēbitōrēs in partēs secārī possunt.
14.19 Iūdex quaerit ut testāmentum ā testibus signātum sit.
14.20 Ut iniqua haec sententia vidētur!
14.21 Senātūs cēnsuit ut novae tabulae fierent.
14.22 Ut mōs est in rē pūblicā, prōcōnsul negōtium prōvinciae cūrat.
14.23 Cōnsulēs mandant ut iūstitium indicātur.
14.24 Videāmus ut hae lēgēs inter sē congruant.
14.25 Ut iūris perītī respondērunt, possessiō bonōrum trādenda est.
14.26 Praefectus iubet ut ratiōnēs pūblicae īnspiciantur.
14.27 Ut in lēge Aquilia scrīptum est, damnum compensandum est.
14.28 Tribūnus postulat ut intercessiō sua in tabulās pūblicās referātur.
14.29 Ut sevēra haec poena ex lēge Cornēliā est!
14.30 Magistrātus cūrat ut testāmenta in tabulāriō pūblicō custōdiantur.
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Technical Legal Terms Used: -
adrōgātiō: formal adoption of a person sui iuris -
iūstitium: formal suspension of legal proceedings -
intercessiō: tribunicial veto -
tabulārium pūblicum: public archive -
possessiō bonōrum: possession of goods (legal term) -
Common Legal Formulae: -
ut + subjunctive following official pronouncements (ēdīxit ut...) -
comparative ut in citations of law (ut lēx docet...) -
ut in formal inquiries (quaerit ut...) -
Legal Document Types: -
testāmentum (will) -
tabulae pūblicae (public records) -
ratiōnēs pūblicae (public accounts) -
documenta bonōrum (documentation of goods)
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Passive Voice Usage: -
exhibeantur (should be produced) -
īnspiciantur (should be examined) -
referātur (should be recorded) -
Common in legal language for objectivity -
Gerundive Constructions: -
trādenda est (must be handed over) -
compensandum est (must be compensated) -
Expressing legal obligation -
Technical Verb Forms: -
cēnsuit ut (decided that) - formal decree -
postulat ut (demands that) - legal request -
cūrat ut (ensures that) - official duty -
Specialized Legal Syntax: -
Formal word order in decrees -
Use of technical ablative constructions -
Standard formulae for citations
These examples reflect actual Roman legal procedure, including: -
Role of magistrates in law -
Function of public archives -
Process of legal declarations -
System of legal precedent -
Official record-keeping requirements
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