← Latin for Lawyers, Judges and Notaries Public
19.1 Iūdex judge sevērus strict est is, sed but iūstus just etiam also est is
19.2 Lēgēs laws multae many sunt are, sed but bonae good sunt are
19.3 Testis witness vēra true things dīxit said, sed but nōn not omnia all things explicāvit explained
19.4 Accūsātor prosecutor fortis strong erat was, sed but causam case nōn not probāvit proved
19.5 Dēfēnsor defender ōrātiōnem speech longam long habuit had, sed but brevitās brevity melior better erat was
19.6 Nōtārius notary documentum document scrīpsit wrote, sed but errōrem error fēcit made
19.7 Tabulae records antīquae ancient sunt are, sed but adhūc still valent are valid
19.8 Pecūniam money prōmīsit promised, sed but nōn not dedit gave
19.9 Testāmentum will compositum composed est is, sed but nōn not signātum signed est is
19.10 Contrāctus contract clārus clear vidētur seems, sed but ambiguitātēs ambiguities habet has
19.11 Crīmen crime grave serious vidēbātur seemed, sed but probātiōnēs proofs dēficiunt are lacking
19.12 Arbitrī arbitrators sapientēs wise sunt are, sed but errāre to err possunt are able
19.13 Adversārius opponent fortiter strongly contendit contended, sed but causa case cecīdit fell
19.14 Advocātus advocate doctus learned est is, sed but nōn not semper always vincit wins
19.15 Verba words lēgis of law dūra harsh sunt are, sed but aequitās equity praestat prevails
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19.1 Iūdex sevērus est, sed iūstus etiam est. The judge is strict, but he is also just.
19.2 Multae sunt lēgēs, sed bonae sunt. There are many laws, but they are good.
19.3 Vēra dīxit testis, sed nōn omnia explicāvit. The witness spoke truth, but did not explain everything.
19.4 Fortis erat accūsātor, sed causam nōn probāvit. The prosecutor was strong, but did not prove his case.
19.5 Dēfēnsor ōrātiōnem longam habuit, sed brevitās melior erat. The defender gave a long speech, but brevity would have been better.
19.6 Documentum scrīpsit nōtārius, sed errōrem fēcit. The notary wrote the document, but made an error.
19.7 Antīquae sunt tabulae, sed adhūc valent. The records are ancient, but they are still valid.
19.8 Pecūniam prōmīsit, sed nōn dedit. He promised money, but did not give it.
19.9 Compositum est testāmentum, sed nōn signātum est. The will has been composed, but has not been signed.
19.10 Clārus vidētur contrāctus, sed ambiguitātēs habet. The contract seems clear, but it has ambiguities.
19.11 Grave vidēbātur crīmen, sed probātiōnēs dēficiunt. The crime seemed serious, but proofs are lacking.
19.12 Sapientēs sunt arbitrī, sed errāre possunt. The arbitrators are wise, but they can err.
19.13 Fortiter contendit adversārius, sed causa cecīdit. The opponent contended strongly, but lost the case.
19.14 Doctus est advocātus, sed nōn semper vincit. The advocate is learned, but does not always win.
19.15 Dūra sunt verba lēgis, sed aequitās praestat. The words of the law are harsh, but equity prevails.
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19.1 Iūdex sevērus est, sed iūstus etiam est.
19.2 Multae sunt lēgēs, sed bonae sunt.
19.3 Vēra dīxit testis, sed nōn omnia explicāvit.
19.4 Fortis erat accūsātor, sed causam nōn probāvit.
19.5 Dēfēnsor ōrātiōnem longam habuit, sed brevitās melior erat.
19.6 Documentum scrīpsit nōtārius, sed errōrem fēcit.
19.7 Antīquae sunt tabulae, sed adhūc valent.
19.8 Pecūniam prōmīsit, sed nōn dedit.
19.9 Compositum est testāmentum, sed nōn signātum est.
19.10 Clārus vidētur contrāctus, sed ambiguitātēs habet.
19.11 Grave vidēbātur crīmen, sed probātiōnēs dēficiunt.
19.12 Sapientēs sunt arbitrī, sed errāre possunt.
19.13 Fortiter contendit adversārius, sed causa cecīdit.
19.14 Doctus est advocātus, sed nōn semper vincit.
19.15 Dūra sunt verba lēgis, sed aequitās praestat.
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For English speakers learning Latin, understanding "sed" requires attention to several key points: -
Basic Function: -
Coordinating conjunction connecting contrasting ideas -
Always introduces the second element -
Cannot begin a sentence -
No inflection (doesn't change form) -
Word Order: -
Usually appears between the elements it connects -
Often followed by subject of second clause -
Can connect words, phrases, or clauses -
Creates balanced structures -
Common Patterns: -
With negatives: "X est, sed non Y" -
With opposites: "X est, sed Y melior est" -
In legal contexts: particularly with exceptions and limitations -
With qualifying statements -
Legal Usage: -
Introduces exceptions to rules -
Qualifies previous statements -
Presents contrasting evidence -
Modifies legal principles
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For English speakers, understanding how Romans used "sed" in legal contexts requires cultural background: -
Roman Legal Writing: -
Precision was crucial -
Exceptions were carefully noted -
Qualifications were common -
Balance was important -
Legal Documents: -
Used in contracts -
Important in wills -
Present in laws -
Common in judgments -
Court Procedure: -
Used in arguments -
Part of formal responses -
Found in judicial decisions -
Present in legal formulas -
Modern Relevance: -
Still used in legal Latin -
Important in civil law -
Found in legal maxims -
Used in formal documents
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From Cicero's "Pro Cluentio" (53.146):
Grave serious est is enim for crīmen charge et and vehemēns violent et and postea afterwards dīlūtum refuted est, was, sed but multā many in in eā that suspīciōsa suspicious things reperta found sunt were.*
"Grave est enim crīmen et vehemēns et postea dīlūtum est, sed multā in eā suspīciōsa reperta sunt."
For the charge is serious and violent and was afterwards refuted, but many suspicious circumstances were found in it.
Cicero uses "sed" to present contrasting evidence in this legal speech. The structure shows: -
Initial assertion about the charge -
Acknowledgment of its refutation -
Contrasting evidence introduced by "sed"
-
"sed" connects two main clauses -
Perfect passive "dīlūtum est" -
Neuter plural "suspīciōsa" -
Balanced clause structure
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19.16 Petītor plaintiff causam case validam strong habēre to have vidētur seems, sed but probātiōnēs proofs insufficientēs insufficient sunt are
19.17 Documenta documents authentica authentic praesentāta presented sunt were, sed but quaedam certain signa signatures dēsunt are missing
19.18 Testēs witnesses multī many convocātī summoned sunt were, sed but paucī few sciēbant knew vēritātem truth
19.19 Argumenta arguments dēfēnsōris of defender ēloquentia eloquent erant were, sed but fundāmentum foundation iūridicum legal dēbile weak erat was
19.20 Iūdex judge benevolus benevolent vidēbātur seemed, sed but sententiam judgment sevēram severe prōnūntiāvit pronounced
19.21 Probātiōnēs proofs circumstantiālēs circumstantial fortēs strong sunt are, sed but testimōnium testimony dirēctum direct necessārium necessary est is
19.22 Adversārius opponent lītem lawsuit extendere to extend cōnātur tries, sed but iūdex judge celeritatem speed requīrit requires
19.23 Nōtārius notary errōrem error parvum small fēcit made, sed but effectūs effects gravēs serious sunt are
19.24 Pecūnia money dēposita deposited est is, sed but titulus title possessiōnis of possession incertus uncertain manet remains
19.25 Arbiter arbitrator sōlutiōnem solution prōposuit proposed, sed but partēs parties nōn not cōnsentiunt agree
19.26 Contrāctus contract validus valid esse to be vidētur seems, sed but interpretātiō interpretation difficilis difficult est is
19.27 Testātor testator voluntātem will suam his expressit expressed, sed but verba words ambigua ambiguous sunt are
19.28 Lēx law nova new prōmulgāta promulgated est is, sed but effectus effect retroāctīvus retroactive nōn not est is
19.29 Praecēdēns precedent iūdiciāle judicial citātum cited est is, sed but circumstantiae circumstances dissimilēs dissimilar sunt are
19.30 Iūrisdictiō jurisdiction prīmā first faciē face vidētur seems, sed but quaestiōnēs questions territōriālēs territorial exsistunt exist
19.16 Petītor causam validam habēre vidētur, sed probātiōnēs insufficientēs sunt. The plaintiff seems to have a strong case, but the proofs are insufficient.
19.17 Documenta authentica praesentāta sunt, sed quaedam signa dēsunt. Authentic documents were presented, but certain signatures are missing.
19.18 Testēs multī convocātī sunt, sed paucī sciēbant vēritātem. Many witnesses were summoned, but few knew the truth.
19.19 Argumenta dēfēnsōris ēloquentia erant, sed fundāmentum iūridicum dēbile erat. The defender's arguments were eloquent, but the legal foundation was weak.
19.20 Iūdex benevolus vidēbātur, sed sententiam sevēram prōnūntiāvit. The judge seemed benevolent, but pronounced a severe judgment.
19.21 Probātiōnēs circumstantiālēs fortēs sunt, sed testimōnium dirēctum necessārium est. The circumstantial evidence is strong, but direct testimony is necessary.
19.22 Adversārius lītem extendere cōnātur, sed iūdex celeritatem requīrit. The opponent tries to extend the lawsuit, but the judge requires speed.
19.23 Nōtārius errōrem parvum fēcit, sed effectūs gravēs sunt. The notary made a small error, but the effects are serious.
19.24 Pecūnia dēposita est, sed titulus possessiōnis incertus manet. The money has been deposited, but the title of possession remains uncertain.
19.25 Arbiter sōlutiōnem prōposuit, sed partēs nōn cōnsentiunt. The arbitrator proposed a solution, but the parties do not agree.
19.26 Contrāctus validus esse vidētur, sed interpretātiō difficilis est. The contract seems to be valid, but the interpretation is difficult.
19.27 Testātor voluntātem suam expressit, sed verba ambigua sunt. The testator expressed his will, but the words are ambiguous.
19.28 Lēx nova prōmulgāta est, sed effectus retroāctīvus nōn est. A new law has been promulgated, but it has no retroactive effect.
19.29 Praecēdēns iūdiciāle citātum est, sed circumstantiae dissimilēs sunt. A judicial precedent has been cited, but the circumstances are dissimilar.
19.30 Iūrisdictiō prīmā faciē vidētur, sed quaestiōnēs territōriālēs exsistunt. Jurisdiction seems to exist at first glance, but territorial questions exist.
19.16 Petītor causam validam habēre vidētur, sed probātiōnēs insufficientēs sunt.
19.17 Documenta authentica praesentāta sunt, sed quaedam signa dēsunt.
19.18 Testēs multī convocātī sunt, sed paucī sciēbant vēritātem.
19.19 Argumenta dēfēnsōris ēloquentia erant, sed fundāmentum iūridicum dēbile erat.
19.20 Iūdex benevolus vidēbātur, sed sententiam sevēram prōnūntiāvit.
19.21 Probātiōnēs circumstantiālēs fortēs sunt, sed testimōnium dirēctum necessārium est.
19.22 Adversārius lītem extendere cōnātur, sed iūdex celeritatem requīrit.
19.23 Nōtārius errōrem parvum fēcit, sed effectūs gravēs sunt.
19.24 Pecūnia dēposita est, sed titulus possessiōnis incertus manet.
19.25 Arbiter sōlutiōnem prōposuit, sed partēs nōn cōnsentiunt.
19.26 Contrāctus validus esse vidētur, sed interpretātiō difficilis est.
19.27 Testātor voluntātem suam expressit, sed verba ambigua sunt.
19.28 Lēx nova prōmulgāta est, sed effectus retroāctīvus nōn est.
19.29 Praecēdēns iūdiciāle citātum est, sed circumstantiae dissimilēs sunt.
19.30 Iūrisdictiō prīmā faciē vidētur, sed quaestiōnēs territōriālēs exsistunt.
In legal briefs, "sed" serves several specific functions: -
Structural Uses: -
Introduces limitations to legal principles -
Presents exceptions to rules -
Qualifies preliminary conclusions -
Contrasts evidence or arguments -
Common Legal Patterns: -
"vidētur... sed" (it seems... but) -
"praesentāta sunt... sed" (were presented... but) -
"expressit... sed" (expressed... but) -
"validus... sed" (valid... but) -
Technical Legal Context: -
Used in formal argumentation -
Introduces countervailing evidence -
Presents jurisdictional limitations -
Qualifies legal principles -
Specific Legal Applications: -
In contractual interpretation -
In evidentiary analysis -
In jurisdictional questions -
In procedural matters
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