← Latin for Lawyers, Judges and Notaries Public
5.1 iūdex the judge in in tribunālī the tribunal sedet sits
5.2 in in forō the forum causam case dīcit he pleads
5.3 testēs witnesses in into iūdicium court veniunt come
5.4 in in lēgibus the laws scrīptum written est it is
5.5 tabulae documents in in archīvō the archive sunt are
5.6 advocātus the lawyer in into basilicam the basilica intrat enters
5.7 in in testimōniō testimony vēritātem truth dīcit he speaks
5.8 praetor the praetor in in sellā chair cūrūlī curule sedet sits
5.9 in in tabulīs the records nōmen name scrībit he writes
5.10 testāmentum will in in tabulāriō registry pōnit he places
5.11 in in iūre law errāre to err perīculōsum dangerous est is
5.12 signum seal in on cērā wax imprimunt they impress
5.13 in in contractū contract voluntās intention appāret appears
5.14 notārius notary in in āctīs records subscrībit signs
5.15 in in senātū senate lēgem law prōmulgant they promulgate
5.1 Iūdex in tribunālī sedet. The judge sits in the tribunal.
5.2 In forō causam dīcit. He pleads the case in the forum.
5.3 Testēs in iūdicium veniunt. The witnesses come into court.
5.4 In lēgibus scrīptum est. It is written in the laws.
5.5 Tabulae in archīvō sunt. The documents are in the archive.
5.6 Advocātus in basilicam intrat. The lawyer enters into the basilica.
5.7 In testimōniō vēritātem dīcit. He speaks the truth in testimony.
5.8 Praetor in sellā cūrūlī sedet. The praetor sits in the curule chair.
5.9 In tabulīs nōmen scrībit. He writes the name in the records.
5.10 Testāmentum in tabulāriō pōnit. He places the will in the registry.
5.11 In iūre errāre perīculōsum est. It is dangerous to err in law.
5.12 Signum in cērā imprimunt. They impress the seal on wax.
5.13 In contractū voluntās appāret. The intention appears in the contract.
5.14 Notārius in āctīs subscrībit. The notary signs in the records.
5.15 In senātū lēgem prōmulgant. They promulgate the law in the senate.
5.1 Iūdex in tribunālī sedet.
5.2 In forō causam dīcit.
5.3 Testēs in iūdicium veniunt.
5.4 In lēgibus scrīptum est.
5.5 Tabulae in archīvō sunt.
5.6 Advocātus in basilicam intrat.
5.7 In testimōniō vēritātem dīcit.
5.8 Praetor in sellā cūrūlī sedet.
5.9 In tabulīs nōmen scrībit.
5.10 Testāmentum in tabulāriō pōnit.
5.11 In iūre errāre perīculōsum est.
5.12 Signum in cērā imprimunt.
5.13 In contractū voluntās appāret.
5.14 Notārius in āctīs subscrībit.
5.15 In senātū lēgem prōmulgant.
For English speakers learning Latin legal language, the preposition "in" has two important uses: -
With Ablative Case: -
Indicates location or position ("in, on") -
Example: "in tribunālī" (in the tribunal) -
Shows where something is or happens -
With Accusative Case: -
Indicates motion towards ("into, onto") -
Example: "in iūdicium" (into court) -
Shows movement to a destination
Key differences from English usage: -
Latin requires different cases depending on meaning -
Word order is more flexible than English -
No difference between "in" and "on" - context determines meaning
Common legal phrases using "in": -
in iūre (in law) -
in testimōniō (in testimony) -
in āctīs (in the records)
For English-speaking law students and legal professionals, understanding "in" in Roman legal contexts requires cultural awareness: -
Roman Legal Spaces: -
Forum: Open public court -
Basilica: Covered courtroom -
Tribunal: Raised platform for magistrate -
Legal Documentation: -
Tabulārium: Public records office -
Archīvum: Archive for important documents -
Āctae: Official proceedings and records -
Modern Legal Parallels: -
"In court" vs "in iūdicium" -
"In the record" vs "in āctīs" -
"In law" vs "in iūre"
From Ulpian's Digest (1.1.1.pr):
in in studiō the study iūris of law versantī for one engaging necessārium necessary est it is
In studiō iūris versantī necessārium est. It is necessary for one engaging in the study of law.
This quote from Ulpian emphasizes the importance of legal study. The use of "in" with the ablative case (studiō) shows the field or area of engagement.
-
"in studiō": ablative case after "in" -
"iūris": genitive case showing possession -
"versantī": present participle, dative case -
"necessārium": predicate adjective
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
5.16 praetor the praetor in in sellā chair suā his sedēns sitting iūdicium judgment exercet exercises
5.17 lictor lictor in into forum forum fasces fasces portat carries
5.18 advocātī advocates in in causā case magnā important contendunt contend
5.19 in in iūre law cessio transfer locum place habet has
5.20 testis witness in in testimōniō testimony suō his persevērat persists
5.21 in in tabulīs tablets pūblicīs public nōmina names scrībuntur are written
5.22 iūdex judge in in causā case difficilī difficult dēlīberat deliberates
5.23 servus slave in in vinculīs chains testātur testifies
5.24 in in senātū senate nova new lēx law rogātur is proposed
5.25 tabulae documents in in archīvō archive pūblicō public custōdiuntur are guarded
5.26 signa seals in on testāmentō will integra intact manent remain
5.27 in in forō forum tribūnus tribune plēbī of people intercedit interposes
5.28 praefectus prefect in in prōvinciā province iūs law dīcit declares
5.29 in in edictō edict praetōris of praetor scrīptum written videmus we see
5.30 testāmentum will in in tabulāriō registry pūblicō public servātur is preserved
5.16 Praetor in sellā suā sedēns iūdicium exercet. The praetor, sitting in his chair, exercises judgment.
5.17 Lictor in forum fasces portat. The lictor carries the fasces into the forum.
5.18 Advocātī in causā magnā contendunt. The advocates contend in the important case.
5.19 In iūre cessio locum habet. The transfer in law takes place.
5.20 Testis in testimōniō suō persevērat. The witness persists in his testimony.
5.21 In tabulīs pūblicīs nōmina scrībuntur. The names are written in the public records.
5.22 Iūdex in causā difficilī dēlīberat. The judge deliberates in the difficult case.
5.23 Servus in vinculīs testātur. The slave testifies in chains.
5.24 In senātū nova lēx rogātur. A new law is proposed in the senate.
5.25 Tabulae in archīvō pūblicō custōdiuntur. The documents are guarded in the public archive.
5.26 Signa in testāmentō integra manent. The seals remain intact on the will.
5.27 In forō tribūnus plēbī intercedit. In the forum, the tribune of the people interposes.
5.28 Praefectus in prōvinciā iūs dīcit. The prefect declares law in the province.
5.29 In edictō praetōris scrīptum videmus. We see what is written in the praetor's edict.
5.30 Testāmentum in tabulāriō pūblicō servātur. The will is preserved in the public registry.
5.16 Praetor in sellā suā sedēns iūdicium exercet.
5.17 Lictor in forum fasces portat.
5.18 Advocātī in causā magnā contendunt.
5.19 In iūre cessio locum habet.
5.20 Testis in testimōniō suō persevērat.
5.21 In tabulīs pūblicīs nōmina scrībuntur.
5.22 Iūdex in causā difficilī dēlīberat.
5.23 Servus in vinculīs testātur.
5.24 In senātū nova lēx rogātur.
5.25 Tabulae in archīvō pūblicō custōdiuntur.
5.26 Signa in testāmentō integra manent.
5.27 In forō tribūnus plēbī intercedit.
5.28 Praefectus in prōvinciā iūs dīcit.
5.29 In edictō praetōris scrīptum videmus.
5.30 Testāmentum in tabulāriō pūblicō servātur.
In Roman legal proceedings, the preposition "in" plays crucial roles: -
Physical Location in Legal Settings: -
"in forō" (in the forum) - ablative case -
"in sellā" (in the chair) - ablative case -
"in tabulāriō" (in the registry) - ablative case -
Legal States or Conditions: -
"in iūre" (in law) - abstract use with ablative -
"in vinculīs" (in chains) - describing legal status -
"in testimōniō" (in testimony) - formal legal context -
Legal Documentation: -
"in tabulīs" (in the records) - physical documents -
"in edictō" (in the edict) - legal pronouncements -
"in testāmentō" (in the will) - legal instruments
Key Grammar Points for Legal Latin: -
Ablative case shows location of legal proceedings -
Accusative case shows movement in legal contexts -
Passive voice common in legal documentation -
Present participles (e.g., "sedēns") for concurrent action -
Tendency toward formal, precise constructions
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---