← Latin for Lawyers, Judges and Notaries Public
Today we study the reflexive pronoun suī sibi sē/sēsē (himself, herself, itself, themselves) - a crucial word in legal Latin for indicating when subjects act upon themselves or their own interests.
16.1 Testātor testator sē himself hērēdem heir suī of himself esse to be scrīpsit wrote
16.2 Reus defendant sibi for himself causam case dīcere to speak dēbet ought
16.3 Iūdex judge sē himself ā from causā case remōvit removed
16.4 Testēs witnesses sēsē themselves parātōs ready esse to be affirmant affirm
16.5 Advocātus lawyer clientem client sēcum with himself habēbat had
16.6 Cīvis citizen sibi for himself iūra rights postulāvit demanded
16.7 Senātōrēs senators inter among sē themselves lēgem law scrīpsērunt wrote
16.8 Iūdex judge sibi for himself legēs laws interpretārī to interpret cōnstituit decided
16.9 Accūsātus accused sē himself culpae of fault cōnscium aware esse to be negat denies
16.10 Cōnsul consul sē himself lēgibus by laws tenērī to be bound intellegit understands
16.11 Arbiter arbitrator sē himself medium neutral inter between partēs parties praebet presents
16.12 Lēgātus ambassador sibi for himself potestātem power vindicāvit claimed
16.13 Praetor praetor sē himself iūdicem judge competentem competent dēclārāvit declared
16.14 Scribae scribes inter among sē themselves documenta documents divīsērunt divided
16.15 Notārius notary sē himself testāmentō to will subscrīpsit signed
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16.1 Testātor sē hērēdem suī esse scrīpsit. The testator wrote that he was his own heir.
16.2 Causam sibi reus dīcere dēbet. The defendant must plead his own case.
16.3 Ā causā sē iūdex remōvit. The judge removed himself from the case.
16.4 Testēs sēsē parātōs esse affirmant. The witnesses affirm that they are ready.
16.5 Advocātus clientem sēcum habēbat. The lawyer had his client with him.
16.6 Iūra sibi cīvis postulāvit. The citizen demanded rights for himself.
16.7 Inter sē senātōrēs lēgem scrīpsērunt. The senators wrote the law among themselves.
16.8 Legēs sibi interpretārī iūdex cōnstituit. The judge decided to interpret the laws for himself.
16.9 Sē culpae cōnscium esse accūsātus negat. The accused denies that he is aware of guilt.
16.10 Lēgibus sē tenērī cōnsul intellegit. The consul understands that he is bound by the laws.
16.11 Medium sē arbiter inter partēs praebet. The arbitrator presents himself as neutral between the parties.
16.12 Potestātem sibi lēgātus vindicāvit. The ambassador claimed power for himself.
16.13 Iūdicem competentem sē praetor dēclārāvit. The praetor declared himself a competent judge.
16.14 Documenta scribae inter sē divīsērunt. The scribes divided the documents among themselves.
16.15 Testāmentō sē notārius subscrīpsit. The notary signed himself to the will.
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16.1 Testātor sē hērēdem suī esse scrīpsit.
16.2 Causam sibi reus dīcere dēbet.
16.3 Ā causā sē iūdex remōvit.
16.4 Testēs sēsē parātōs esse affirmant.
16.5 Advocātus clientem sēcum habēbat.
16.6 Iūra sibi cīvis postulāvit.
16.7 Inter sē senātōrēs lēgem scrīpsērunt.
16.8 Legēs sibi interpretārī iūdex cōnstituit.
16.9 Sē culpae cōnscium esse accūsātus negat.
16.10 Lēgibus sē tenērī cōnsul intellegit.
16.11 Medium sē arbiter inter partēs praebet.
16.12 Potestātem sibi lēgātus vindicāvit.
16.13 Iūdicem competentem sē praetor dēclārāvit.
16.14 Documenta scribae inter sē divīsērunt.
16.15 Testāmentō sē notārius subscrīpsit.
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The reflexive pronoun suī sibi sē/sēsē is essential in legal Latin. Here's how it works: -
Forms: -
Genitive: suī (of himself/herself/itself/themselves) -
Dative: sibi (to/for himself/herself/itself/themselves) -
Accusative: sē or sēsē (himself/herself/itself/themselves) -
Ablative: sē or sēsē (by/with/from himself/herself/itself/themselves) -
Key Uses: a) Direct Reflexive: -
When subject acts on self: "Iūdex sē remōvit" (The judge removed himself)
b) Indirect Reflexive: -
In subordinate clauses referring to main subject -
Example: "Testātor scrīpsit sē esse hērēdem" (The testator wrote that he [himself] was heir) -
Special Constructions: -
sēcum = cum sē (with himself) -
inter sē = among themselves -
per sē = by itself/themselves -
ā sē = from himself/themselves -
Legal Context: -
Often used in: -
Self-declaration formulae -
Recusal statements -
Witness attestations -
Power claims -
Contractual obligations
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For English speakers learning legal Latin, understanding suī/sibi/sē/sēsē requires cultural context: -
Roman Legal Concept of Self: -
Romans viewed legal personality distinctly -
Self-reference crucial in formal documents -
Precise language required for validity -
Historical Development: -
Used in earliest known Roman laws -
Essential in praetorian edicts -
Standard in legal formulae -
Still used in modern legal Latin -
Modern Legal Usage: -
Found in: -
Court opinions -
Legal maxims -
International law -
Canon law -
Important in: -
Self-representation cases -
Judicial recusals -
Notarial acts -
Comparison with English: -
More precise than English "himself" -
Eliminates ambiguity in legal documents -
Creates clearer chain of reference -
Essential for proper legal drafting
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From Gaius' Institutes (2.156):
Sed but sī if quis anyone sibi for himself et and Tītiō for Titius in in cūius whose potestāte power nōn not sit he may be hērēdem heir īnstituerit should have appointed Tītius Titius nōn not adicitur is added nam for sibi for himself sōlī alone vindicābit he will claim hērēditātem the inheritance
Sed sī quis sibi et Tītiō in cūius potestāte nōn sit hērēdem īnstituerit, Tītius nōn adicitur; nam sibi sōlī vindicābit hērēditātem.
But if anyone should have appointed as heir himself and Titius, in whose power he is not, Titius is not added; for he will claim the inheritance for himself alone.
This passage from Gaius demonstrates: -
Legal use of sibi in inheritance law -
Relationship between personal and third-party rights -
Precision of Roman legal language -
Importance of power relationships in Roman law
-
sibi: dative of advantage -
in cūius potestāte: relative clause -
vindicābit: future tense showing legal consequence -
sōlī: dative agreeing with sibi -
Complex sentence structure typical of legal Latin
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16.16 Praetor praetor sē himself in in tribūnālī tribunal sedēre to sit iussit ordered
16.17 Litigantēs litigants inter among sē themselves causam case compōnere to settle temptant try
16.18 Advocātus lawyer sē himself prō for clientibus clients parātum ready esse to be dēclārat declares
16.19 Iūdex judge sibi for himself tempus time ad for dēlīberandum deliberating sūmpsit took
16.20 Testis witness sē himself vērum truth dīcere to speak iūrāvit swore
16.21 Accūsātor prosecutor sibi for himself iūs right interrogandī of questioning postulāvit demanded
16.22 Reus defendant sē himself culpae of guilt līberum free esse to be contendit maintained
16.23 Scrība scribe sēsē himself ad for testimōnium testimony scrībendum to be written parat prepares
16.24 Iūdicēs judges inter among sē themselves dē about sententiā verdict cōnsultant consult
16.25 Notārius notary sibi for himself cōpiam copy actōrum of proceedings servat keeps
16.26 Praetor praetor sē himself ad to sententiam verdict prōnūntiandam to be pronounced parat prepares
16.27 Lictōrēs lictors sē themselves circum around tribūnal tribunal dispōnunt arrange
16.28 Advocātī lawyers inter among sē themselves dē about lēge law disputant argue
16.29 Testēs witnesses sē themselves prō before tribūnālī tribunal sistunt present
16.30 Iūdex judge sē himself ad for causam case fīniendam to be finished parat prepares
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16.16 Praetor sē in tribūnālī sedēre iussit. The praetor ordered himself to sit in the tribunal.
16.17 Litigantēs inter sē causam compōnere temptant. The litigants try to settle the case among themselves.
16.18 Advocātus sē prō clientibus parātum esse dēclārat. The lawyer declares that he is ready on behalf of his clients.
16.19 Tempus sibi ad dēlīberandum iūdex sūmpsit. The judge took time for himself to deliberate.
16.20 Testis sē vērum dīcere iūrāvit. The witness swore that he would speak the truth.
16.21 Iūs interrogandī sibi accūsātor postulāvit. The prosecutor demanded for himself the right of questioning.
16.22 Sē culpae līberum esse reus contendit. The defendant maintained that he was free of guilt.
16.23 Ad testimōnium scrībendum sēsē scrība parat. The scribe prepares himself to write the testimony.
16.24 Dē sententiā iūdicēs inter sē cōnsultant. The judges consult among themselves about the verdict.
16.25 Notārius sibi cōpiam actōrum servat. The notary keeps a copy of the proceedings for himself.
16.26 Ad sententiam prōnūntiandam sē praetor parat. The praetor prepares himself to pronounce the verdict.
16.27 Circum tribūnal lictōrēs sē dispōnunt. The lictors arrange themselves around the tribunal.
16.28 Dē lēge advocātī inter sē disputant. The lawyers argue among themselves about the law.
16.29 Prō tribūnālī testēs sē sistunt. The witnesses present themselves before the tribunal.
16.30 Ad causam fīniendam sē iūdex parat. The judge prepares himself to conclude the case.
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16.16 Praetor sē in tribūnālī sedēre iussit.
16.17 Litigantēs inter sē causam compōnere temptant.
16.18 Advocātus sē prō clientibus parātum esse dēclārat.
16.19 Tempus sibi ad dēlīberandum iūdex sūmpsit.
16.20 Testis sē vērum dīcere iūrāvit.
16.21 Iūs interrogandī sibi accūsātor postulāvit.
16.22 Sē culpae līberum esse reus contendit.
16.23 Ad testimōnium scrībendum sēsē scrība parat.
16.24 Dē sententiā iūdicēs inter sē cōnsultant.
16.25 Notārius sibi cōpiam actōrum servat.
16.26 Ad sententiam prōnūntiandam sē praetor parat.
16.27 Circum tribūnal lictōrēs sē dispōnunt.
16.28 Dē lēge advocātī inter sē disputant.
16.29 Prō tribūnālī testēs sē sistunt.
16.30 Ad causam fīniendam sē iūdex parat.
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The Legal Procedural Narrative demonstrates several important grammatical constructions involving the reflexive pronoun in legal contexts: -
Reflexive with Gerundive Constructions: -
"ad dēlīberandum" (for deliberating) -
"ad testimōnium scrībendum" (for writing testimony) -
Shows purpose with legal actions Example: "Tempus sibi ad dēlīberandum iūdex sūmpsit" -
Inter Sē in Legal Discourse: -
Used for mutual actions between parties -
Common in settlement discussions -
Indicates official consultation Example: "Dē lēge advocātī inter sē disputant" -
Indirect Statement in Legal Declarations: -
Subject accusative (sē) with infinitive -
Common in testimony and formal statements Example: "Testis sē vērum dīcere iūrāvit" -
Reflexive with Legal Technical Terms: -
Used in formal procedural actions -
Indicates official capacity Example: "Prō tribūnālī testēs sē sistunt" -
Position and Movement: -
Reflexive showing official placement -
Physical arrangement in court Example: "Circum tribūnal lictōrēs sē dispōnunt" -
Legal Formulae: -
Set phrases with reflexive -
Formal declarations Example: "Sē culpae līberum esse reus contendit" -
Agency and Authority: -
Reflexive showing official power -
Formal actions by magistrates Example: "Praetor sē in tribūnālī sedēre iussit" -
Preparation and Procedure: -
Reflexive with parāre -
Official readiness Example: "Ad causam fīniendam sē iūdex parat"
These constructions demonstrate how the reflexive pronoun functions in formal legal contexts, particularly in: -
Official proceedings -
Court procedures -
Legal documentation -
Formal testimony -
Judicial actions
The word order variations show different emphasis patterns typical of legal Latin: -
Initial position for emphasis -
Final position for formal completion -
Middle position for procedural actions
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