← Latin for Lawyers, Judges and Notaries Public
22.1 Iūdex judge causam case audīre to hear potest is able
22.2 Nōn not possum I am able testibus witnesses crēdere to believe
22.3 Reus defendant sē himself dēfendere to defend nōn not potuit was able
22.4 Poterāmus we were able vēritātem truth invenīre to find
22.5 Lītigātor litigant pecūniam money solvere to pay nōn not poterit will be able
22.6 Potestisne are you able sine without advocātō lawyer lītigāre to litigate
22.7 Testēs witnesses rem matter probāre to prove poterunt will be able
22.8 Tōtam whole rem matter intellegere to understand possumus we are able
22.9 Nēmō no one sine without lēge law iūdicāre to judge potest is able
22.10 Potestne is he able testāmentum will scrībere to write aeger sick man
22.11 Nōtārius notary documenta documents signāre to sign poterat was able
22.12 Reī defendants sē themselves pūrgāre to clear potuērunt were able
22.13 Possuntne are they able hōc this negōtium business cōnficere to complete lēgātī deputies
22.14 Nūllus no iūdex judge sine without lēgibus laws iūdicāre to judge potest is able
22.15 Potuerāsne had you been able contractum contract legere to read ante before signātiōnem signing
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22.1 Causam iūdex audīre potest. The judge is able to hear the case.
22.2 Testibus crēdere nōn possum. I cannot believe the witnesses.
22.3 Sē dēfendere reus nōn potuit. The defendant was not able to defend himself.
22.4 Vēritātem invenīre poterāmus. We were able to find the truth.
22.5 Pecūniam lītigātor solvere nōn poterit. The litigant will not be able to pay the money.
22.6 Potestisne sine advocātō lītigāre? Are you able to litigate without a lawyer?
22.7 Rem testēs probāre poterunt. The witnesses will be able to prove the matter.
22.8 Tōtam rem nunc intellegere possumus. We are now able to understand the whole matter.
22.9 Sine lēge iūdicāre nēmō potest. No one is able to judge without the law.
22.10 Testāmentum scrībere aeger potestne? Is the sick man able to write a will?
22.11 Documenta signāre nōtārius poterat. The notary was able to sign the documents.
22.12 Sē pūrgāre reī potuērunt. The defendants were able to clear themselves.
22.13 Hōc negōtium cōnficere lēgātī possuntne? Are the deputies able to complete this business?
22.14 Sine lēgibus iūdicāre nūllus iūdex potest. No judge is able to make judgments without laws.
22.15 Contractum ante signātiōnem legere potuerāsne? Had you been able to read the contract before signing?
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22.1 Causam iūdex audīre potest.
22.2 Testibus crēdere nōn possum.
22.3 Sē dēfendere reus nōn potuit.
22.4 Vēritātem invenīre poterāmus.
22.5 Pecūniam lītigātor solvere nōn poterit.
22.6 Potestisne sine advocātō lītigāre?
22.7 Rem testēs probāre poterunt.
22.8 Tōtam rem nunc intellegere possumus.
22.9 Sine lēge iūdicāre nēmō potest.
22.10 Testāmentum scrībere aeger potestne?
22.11 Documenta signāre nōtārius poterat.
22.12 Sē pūrgāre reī potuērunt.
22.13 Hōc negōtium cōnficere lēgātī possuntne?
22.14 Sine lēgibus iūdicāre nūllus iūdex potest.
22.15 Contractum ante signātiōnem legere potuerāsne?
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The verb "possum" (to be able) is irregular and combines forms of "potis" (able) with forms of "sum" (to be). Here's how it works for English speakers: -
Formation: -
Present: possum, potes, potest, possumus, potestis, possunt -
Imperfect: poteram, poterās, poterat, poterāmus, poterātis, poterant -
Perfect: potuī, potuistī, potuit, potuimus, potuistis, potuērunt -
Pluperfect: potueram, potuerās, potuerat, potuerāmus, potuerātis, potuerant -
Future: poterō, poteris, poterit, poterimus, poteritis, poterunt -
Key Uses: -
Always takes an infinitive -
Often used with negative (nōn possum = I cannot) -
Common in legal contexts for capability/authority -
Used in questions about legal capacity -
Legal Applications: -
Expressing legal capacity -
Indicating judicial authority -
Stating procedural possibilities -
Defining scope of powers -
Word Order: -
Infinitive often comes before possum -
In questions, possum often comes first -
Negative typically precedes possum
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For English speakers, understanding "possum" in Roman legal contexts requires cultural background: -
Legal Capacity: -
Romans distinguished between what one "can" do legally vs. physically -
Certain people (minors, mentally ill) "non possunt" make contracts -
Legal capacity determined who "poterat" participate in court -
Judicial Authority: -
Judges' powers defined by what they "possunt" do -
Certain actions only possible ("possunt") with proper authority -
Limits on what officials "possunt" decide -
Modern Relevance: -
Still used in legal Latin phrases -
Important in understanding Roman law sources -
Influences modern legal capacity concepts -
Used in international law terminology
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From Gaius' Institutes (1.7):
Nec and not testāmentum will facere to make potest is able minor minor annōrum of years quattuordecim fourteen, nec nor sine without tūtōris of guardian auctōritāte authority testāmentārius testamentary tutor guardian darī to be given potest is able.
Nec testāmentum facere potest minor annōrum quattuordecim, nec sine tūtōris auctōritāte testāmentārius tutor darī potest.
And a minor of fourteen years cannot make a will, nor can a testamentary guardian be appointed without the authority of a guardian.
This passage from Gaius illustrates: -
Legal use of "potest" to indicate capacity -
Double negative construction with "nec" -
Technical legal vocabulary -
Precise age specifications -
Guardian authority concepts
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"potest" used twice in parallel constructions -
Genitive of description in "annōrum quattuordecim" -
Passive infinitive "darī" with "potest" -
Technical term "auctōritāte" in ablative -
Complex legal sentence structure
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22.16 Advocātus lawyer hodiē today in in iūdiciō court agere to plead nōn not potuit was able
22.17 Testēs witnesses vērum truth dīcere to tell dēbent ought quod because mentīrī to lie nōn not possunt are able in in iūdiciō court
22.18 Iūdex judge sine without lēge law iūdicium judgment dare to give nōn not poterat was able
22.19 Poteruntne will they be able causam case sine without testibus witnesses probāre to prove advocātī lawyers
22.20 Reus defendant crīmen crime negāre to deny potuit was able sed but probāre to prove innocentiam innocence nōn not potuit was able
22.21 Nōtārius notary documenta documents pūblica public cōnficere to prepare potest is able sōlus alone
22.22 Iūdicēs judges secundum according to lēgēs laws iūdicāre to judge possunt are able sōlum only
22.23 Potestne is he able testis witness testimonium testimony dare to give per through litterās letters
22.24 Advocātī lawyers clientēs clients dēfendere to defend melius better poterunt will be able nunc now
22.25 In in hāc this causā case vēritātem truth invenīre to find nōn not potuimus we were able
22.26 Prōcūrātor procurator negōtia affairs aliēna of others administrāre to manage potest is able
22.27 Poterāsne were you able sine without testibus witnesses contractum contract validum valid facere to make
22.28 Iūdex judge poenam penalty levāre to lighten potest is able sī if vult he wishes
22.29 Testāmentum will mūtāre to change testātor testator semper always potest is able
22.30 Nēmō no one aliēnō of another nōmine in name lītem lawsuit intendere to bring potest is able
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22.16 In iūdiciō advocātus hodiē agere nōn potuit. The lawyer was not able to plead in court today.
22.17 Testēs vērum dīcere dēbent quod in iūdiciō mentīrī nōn possunt. Witnesses must tell the truth because they cannot lie in court.
22.18 Iūdex sine lēge iūdicium dare nōn poterat. The judge was not able to give judgment without law.
22.19 Causam sine testibus probāre advocātī poteruntne? Will the lawyers be able to prove the case without witnesses?
22.20 Reus crīmen negāre potuit sed innocentiam probāre nōn potuit. The defendant was able to deny the crime but was not able to prove his innocence.
22.21 Documenta pūblica nōtārius sōlus cōnficere potest. Only a notary is able to prepare public documents.
22.22 Secundum lēgēs iūdicēs iūdicāre possunt sōlum. Judges are able to judge only according to the laws.
22.23 Per litterās testimonium dare testis potestne? Is a witness able to give testimony through letters?
22.24 Clientēs advocātī melius dēfendere poterunt nunc. The lawyers will be able to defend their clients better now.
22.25 Vēritātem in hāc causā invenīre nōn potuimus. We were not able to find the truth in this case.
22.26 Negōtia aliēna prōcūrātor administrāre potest. A procurator is able to manage the affairs of others.
22.27 Sine testibus contractum validum facere poterāsne? Were you able to make a valid contract without witnesses?
22.28 Poenam iūdex levāre potest sī vult. The judge is able to lighten the penalty if he wishes.
22.29 Testāmentum testātor semper mūtāre potest. A testator is always able to change his will.
22.30 Aliēnō nōmine lītem intendere nēmō potest. No one is able to bring a lawsuit in another's name.
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22.16 In iūdiciō advocātus hodiē agere nōn potuit.
22.17 Testēs vērum dīcere dēbent quod in iūdiciō mentīrī nōn possunt.
22.18 Iūdex sine lēge iūdicium dare nōn poterat.
22.19 Causam sine testibus probāre advocātī poteruntne?
22.20 Reus crīmen negāre potuit sed innocentiam probāre nōn potuit.
22.21 Documenta pūblica nōtārius sōlus cōnficere potest.
22.22 Secundum lēgēs iūdicēs iūdicāre possunt sōlum.
22.23 Per litterās testimonium dare testis potestne?
22.24 Clientēs advocātī melius dēfendere poterunt nunc.
22.25 Vēritātem in hāc causā invenīre nōn potuimus.
22.26 Negōtia aliēna prōcūrātor administrāre potest.
22.27 Sine testibus contractum validum facere poterāsne?
22.28 Poenam iūdex levāre potest sī vult.
22.29 Testāmentum testātor semper mūtāre potest.
22.30 Aliēnō nōmine lītem intendere nēmō potest.
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In legal procedure contexts, "possum" exhibits several important patterns: -
Technical Legal Uses: -
Expressing legal capacity (22.21: "nōtārius sōlus cōnficere potest") -
Indicating procedural possibilities (22.23: "testimonium dare potestne?") -
Stating judicial powers (22.28: "poenam levāre potest") -
Defining legal limitations (22.30: "nēmō potest") -
Common Constructions: -
With sine + ablative (22.18: "sine lēge") -
In conditional clauses (22.28: "sī vult") -
With negative statements (22.25: "nōn potuimus") -
Questions about capability (22.19: "poteruntne") -
Specific Legal Terms: -
Legal infinitives (agere, probāre, iūdicāre) -
Technical nouns (iūdicium, testimonium, contractus) -
Official titles (iūdex, nōtārius, prōcūrātor) -
Temporal Aspects: -
Present for general rules (22.21, 22.22) -
Perfect for specific instances (22.20) -
Future for procedural possibilities (22.24) -
Imperfect for past circumstances (22.18)
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