(An evolving A-Z of Latin words and phrases of legal relevance)
1. “a coelo usque ad centrum”
Literal meaning: from heaven to the centre of the earth.
Legal context: the extent of the right of the owner of land.
2. "a fortiori"
Literal meaning: much more;with stronger reason
Legal context: usually follows a weaker argument and precedes a more persuasive point
3. "a mensa et thoro"
Literal meaning: from board to bed
Legal context: divorce in the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Courts. It is now represented by a judicial separation.
4. " a posteriori"
Literal meaning: from the effect to the cause
Legal context: inductive reasoning.
5. "a priori"
Literal meaning: from the cause to the effect
Legal context: deductive reasoning.
6. "a tempore cujus contrarii nemoria non existet"
Literal meaning: from a time of which there is no memory to the contrary.
Legal context: within legal memory, or since time immemorial, which runs from the reign of Richard I (because the statute of Westminster 1 fixed that period of limitation for bringing certain real actions)
7. "a verbis legis non est recedendum"
Literal meaning: you must not vary the words of a statute
Legal context: rule of construction
8. "a vinculo matrimonii"
Literal meaning: from the bond of matrimony
Legal context: from the divorce jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Courts, now represented by a decree of nullity.
9. "ab antiquo"
Literal meaning: from old times.
Legal context: usually reference to unchanged old common law
10. "ab initio"
Literal meaning: from the beginning
Legal context: if, for example, a document becomes void in such a way as to be deemed never to have taken effect, it will be considered ab initio.
11. "ab intestate"
Literal meaning: from an intestate
Legal context: usually a right of inheritance from a deceased who left no will
12. "absente reo"
Literal meaning: the Defendant being absent
Legal context: court proceedings
13. "absoluta sentential expositore non indignent"
Literal meaning: when you have plain words capable of only one interpretation, no explanation is required
Legal context: a not very succinct way of denying lack of clarity
14. "absque hoc"
Literal meaning: without this, that.
Legal context: the commencing words of a traverse, or denial, in the old fashioned court proceedings.
