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100.16 Heredēs the heirs nisi unless testāmentum the will lēgerint they have read pecūniam the money nōn not accipient. will receive
100.17 Nisi unless iūdex the judge permīserit, permits it, reus the defendant abesse to be absent nōn not potest. is able
100.18 Testis a witness nisi unless iūrātus having been sworn in testimonium testimony dīcere to give nōn not potest. is able
100.19 Nisi unless omnia all documenta documents ostenderint they show causam the case nōn not vincent. will they win
100.20 Iūdex a judge nisi unless lēgem the law sequitur he follows iūstus just nōn not est. is
100.21 Nī unless quis someone contrā against it dīxerit, speaks, sententia the verdict stat. stands
100.22 Adversāriī the opponents nisi unless prōbāverint they have proved crīmen the crime poenam a penalty nōn not petent. will seek
100.23 Nisi unless senātus the senate permīserit, permits it, rēx the king imperium power nōn not habēbit. will have
100.24 Cīvis a citizen nisi unless cēnsus registered est is suffragium the right to vote nōn not habet. has
100.25 Nī unless iūre by law līberātus freed servus a slave līber free nōn not est. is
100.26 Paterfamiliās the head of the household nisi unless testāmentum a will fēcerit he has made bona goods līberīs to his children nōn not relinquet. will leave
100.27 Nisi unless signum a seal addiderint they have added litterae the letters ratae valid nōn not sunt. are
100.28 Iūdex the judge nisi unless ambās both partēs parties audīverit he has heard iūdicium a judgment nōn not facit. makes
100.29 Nī unless poena the penalty solūta paid erit has been reus the defendant līber free nōn not erit. will be
100.30 Nisi unless magister the magistrate iusserit orders carcer the prison nōn not aperitur. is opened
100.16 Heredēs nisi testāmentum lēgerint pecūniam nōn accipient. The heirs will not receive the money unless they have read the will.
100.17 Nisi iūdex permīserit, reus abesse nōn potest. Unless the judge permits it, the defendant cannot be absent.
100.18 Testis nisi iūrātus testimonium dīcere nōn potest. A witness cannot give testimony unless having been sworn in.
100.19 Nisi omnia documenta ostenderint causam nōn vincent. Unless they show all documents, they will not win the case.
100.20 Iūdex nisi lēgem sequitur iūstus nōn est. A judge is not just unless he follows the law.
100.21 Nī quis contrā dīxerit, sententia stat. Unless someone speaks against it, the verdict stands.
100.22 Adversāriī nisi prōbāverint crīmen poenam nōn petent. The opponents will not seek a penalty unless they have proved the crime.
100.23 Nisi senātus permīserit, rēx imperium nōn habēbit. Unless the senate permits it, the king will not have power.
100.24 Cīvis nisi cēnsus est suffragium nōn habet. A citizen does not have the right to vote unless he is registered.
100.25 Nī iūre līberātus servus līber nōn est. Unless freed by law, a slave is not free.
100.26 Paterfamiliās nisi testāmentum fēcerit bona līberīs nōn relinquet. The head of the household will not leave goods to his children unless he has made a will.
100.27 Nisi signum addiderint litterae ratae nōn sunt. Unless they have added a seal, the letters are not valid.
100.28 Iūdex nisi ambās partēs audīverit iūdicium nōn facit. The judge does not make a judgment unless he has heard both parties.
100.29 Nī poena solūta erit reus līber nōn erit. Unless the penalty has been paid, the defendant will not be free.
100.30 Nisi magister iusserit carcer nōn aperitur. Unless the magistrate orders it, the prison is not opened.
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100.16 Heredēs nisi testāmentum lēgerint pecūniam nōn accipient.
100.17 Nisi iūdex permīserit, reus abesse nōn potest.
100.18 Testis nisi iūrātus testimonium dīcere nōn potest.
100.19 Nisi omnia documenta ostenderint causam nōn vincent.
100.20 Iūdex nisi lēgem sequitur iūstus nōn est.
100.21 Nī quis contrā dīxerit, sententia stat.
100.22 Adversāriī nisi prōbāverint crīmen poenam nōn petent.
100.23 Nisi senātus permīserit, rēx imperium nōn habēbit.
100.24 Cīvis nisi cēnsus est suffragium nōn habet.
100.25 Nī iūre līberātus servus līber nōn est.
100.26 Paterfamiliās nisi testāmentum fēcerit bona līberīs nōn relinquet.
100.27 Nisi signum addiderint litterae ratae nōn sunt.
100.28 Iūdex nisi ambās partēs audīverit iūdicium nōn facit.
100.29 Nī poena solūta erit reus līber nōn erit.
100.30 Nisi magister iusserit carcer nōn aperitur.
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Understanding how Romans used "nisi" requires cultural context: -
Legal Language: -
Common in laws and contracts -
Used in formal exceptions -
Important in wills -
Part of legal formulas -
Military Context: -
Used in battle conditions -
Part of command structure -
Found in military reports -
Common in strategic planning -
Social Implications: -
Used in polite refusals -
Part of negotiation language -
Important in formal requests -
Shows logical thinking -
Modern Relevance: -
Still used in legal Latin -
Found in academic writing -
Important in logical discourse -
Helps understand conditions
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From Cicero's "Pro Roscio Amerino" (20.55):
100.16 Heredēs the heirs nisi unless testāmentum the will lēgerint they have read pecūniam the money nōn not accipient. will receive
100.17 Nisi Unless iūdex the judge permīserit, permits it, reus the defendant abesse to be absent nōn not potest. can
100.18 Testis A witness nisi unless iūrātus having been sworn in testimonium testimony dīcere to give nōn not potest. can
100.19 Nisi Unless omnia all documenta documents ostenderint they show causam the case nōn not vincent. will they win
100.20 Iūdex A judge nisi unless lēgem the law sequitur he follows iūstus just nōn not est. is
100.21 Nī Unless quis someone contrā against dīxerit, speaks, sententia the verdict stat. stands
100.22 Adversāriī The opponents nisi unless prōbāverint they have proved crīmen the crime poenam a penalty nōn not petent. will seek
100.23 Nisi Unless senātus the senate permīserit, permits it, rēx the king imperium power nōn not habēbit. will have
100.24 Cīvis A citizen nisi unless cēnsus registered est is suffragium the right to vote nōn not habet. has
100.25 Nī Unless iūre by law līberātus freed servus a slave līber free nōn not est. is
100.26 Paterfamiliās The head of the household nisi unless testāmentum a will fēcerit he has made bona goods līberīs to his children nōn not relinquet. will leave
100.27 Nisi Unless signum a seal addiderint they have added litterae the letters ratae valid nōn not sunt. are
100.28 Iūdex The judge nisi unless ambās both partēs parties audīverit he has heard iūdicium a judgment nōn not facit. makes
100.29 Nī Unless poena the penalty solūta paid erit has been reus the defendant līber free nōn not erit. will be
100.30 Nisi Unless magister the magistrate iusserit orders carcer the prison nōn not aperitur. is opened
"Nōn modo sine cūrā quiēscere, sed nē spīrāre quidem sine metū possunt, nisi sē longius ā suīs maleficiīs removērint."
They cannot not only rest without care, but cannot even breathe without fear, unless they remove themselves quite far from their crimes.
Cicero uses "nisi" to emphasize the impossibility of peace of mind for the guilty. The structure builds tension through: -
Paired negatives -
Escalating actions (rest → breathe) -
Physical distance metaphor
-
"nisi" introduces condition -
Perfect subjunctive "removērint" -
Double negative emphasis -
Complex sentence structure -
Use of comparative "longius"
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100.16 Heredēs heirs nisi unless testāmentum will lēgerint they will have read pecūniam money nōn not accipient will receive
100.17 Nisi unless iūdex judge permīserit will have permitted reus defendant abesse to be absent nōn not potest is able
100.18 Testis witness nisi unless iūrātus having sworn testimonium testimony dīcere to speak nōn not potest is able
100.19 Nisi unless omnia all things documenta documents ostenderint they will have shown causam case nōn not vincent they will win
100.20 Iūdex judge nisi unless lēgem law sequitur follows iūstus just nōn not est is
100.21 Nī unless quis someone contrā against dīxerit will have spoken sententia verdict stat stands
100.22 Adversāriī opponents nisi unless prōbāverint they will have proved crīmen crime poenam penalty nōn not petent will seek
100.23 Nisi unless senātus senate permīserit will have permitted rēx king imperium power nōn not habēbit will have
100.24 Cīvis citizen nisi unless cēnsus registered est is suffragium vote nōn not habet has
100.25 Nī unless iūre by law līberātus freed servus slave līber free nōn not est is
100.26 Paterfamiliās head of household nisi unless testāmentum will fēcerit will have made bona goods līberīs to children nōn not relinquet will leave
100.27 Nisi unless signum seal addiderint they will have added litterae letters ratae valid nōn not sunt are
100.28 Iūdex judge nisi unless ambās both partēs parties audīverit will have heard iūdicium judgment nōn not facit makes
100.29 Nī unless poena penalty solūta paid erit will have been reus defendant līber free nōn not erit will be
100.30 Nisi unless magister magistrate iusserit will have ordered carcer prison nōn not aperitur is opened
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100.16 Heredēs nisi testāmentum lēgerint pecūniam nōn accipient. The heirs will not receive the money unless they have read the will.
100.17 Nisi iūdex permīserit, reus abesse nōn potest. Unless the judge permits it, the defendant cannot be absent.
100.18 Testis nisi iūrātus testimonium dīcere nōn potest. A witness cannot give testimony unless having been sworn in.
100.19 Nisi omnia documenta ostenderint causam nōn vincent. Unless they show all documents, they will not win the case.
100.20 Iūdex nisi lēgem sequitur iūstus nōn est. A judge is not just unless he follows the law.
100.21 Nī quis contrā dīxerit, sententia stat. Unless someone speaks against it, the verdict stands.
100.22 Adversāriī nisi prōbāverint crīmen poenam nōn petent. The opponents will not seek a penalty unless they have proved the crime.
100.23 Nisi senātus permīserit, rēx imperium nōn habēbit. Unless the senate permits it, the king will not have power.
100.24 Cīvis nisi cēnsus est suffragium nōn habet. A citizen does not have the right to vote unless he is registered.
100.25 Nī iūre līberātus servus līber nōn est. Unless freed by law, a slave is not free.
100.26 Paterfamiliās nisi testāmentum fēcerit bona līberīs nōn relinquet. The head of the household will not leave goods to his children unless he has made a will.
100.27 Nisi signum addiderint litterae ratae nōn sunt. Unless they have added a seal, the letters are not valid.
100.28 Iūdex nisi ambās partēs audīverit iūdicium nōn facit. The judge does not make a judgment unless he has heard both parties.
100.29 Nī poena solūta erit reus līber nōn erit. Unless the penalty has been paid, the defendant will not be free.
100.30 Nisi magister iusserit carcer nōn aperitur. Unless the magistrate orders it, the prison is not opened.
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100.16 Heredēs nisi testāmentum lēgerint pecūniam nōn accipient.
100.17 Nisi iūdex permīserit, reus abesse nōn potest.
100.18 Testis nisi iūrātus testimonium dīcere nōn potest.
100.19 Nisi omnia documenta ostenderint causam nōn vincent.
100.20 Iūdex nisi lēgem sequitur iūstus nōn est.
100.21 Nī quis contrā dīxerit, sententia stat.
100.22 Adversāriī nisi prōbāverint crīmen poenam nōn petent.
100.23 Nisi senātus permīserit, rēx imperium nōn habēbit.
100.24 Cīvis nisi cēnsus est suffragium nōn habet.
100.25 Nī iūre līberātus servus līber nōn est.
100.26 Paterfamiliās nisi testāmentum fēcerit bona līberīs nōn relinquet.
100.27 Nisi signum addiderint litterae ratae nōn sunt.
100.28 Iūdex nisi ambās partēs audīverit iūdicium nōn facit.
100.29 Nī poena solūta erit reus līber nōn erit.
100.30 Nisi magister iusserit carcer nōn aperitur.
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Legal Conditional Structures: a) Future Perfect with Future: -
"nisi lēgerint... nōn accipient" (unless they will have read... they will not receive) -
Common in stating legal consequences -
Shows sequence of required actions
b) Present with Present: -
"nisi sequitur... nōn est" (unless he follows... is not) -
For stating general legal principles -
Expresses ongoing requirements -
Legal Vocabulary Patterns: -
Technical terms: iūdex, reus, testimonium -
Formal verbs: permittere, probare, iubēre -
Official nouns: signum, litterae ratae, iūdicium -
Syntactical Features: a) Word Order: -
Subject-final for emphasis -
Verb-final in formal statements -
nisi clause often first for conditions
b) Passive Constructions: -
"nisi iūrātus" (unless having been sworn) -
"nisi līberātus" (unless having been freed) -
Common in legal language -
Tense Usage in Legal Context: -
Future Perfect for prerequisites -
Simple Future for consequences -
Present for standing laws -
Perfect for completed actions -
Special Legal Formulae: a) Procedural Requirements: -
"nisi ambās partēs" (unless both parties) -
"nisi signum addiderint" (unless they have added a seal)
b) Authority Phrases: -
"nisi magister iusserit" (unless the magistrate orders) -
"nisi senātus permīserit" (unless the senate permits) -
Negative Constructions: -
Double negatives rare in legal Latin -
Clear, unambiguous statements preferred -
nōn typically follows nisi clause
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