Latin for Lawyers

L ATIN FOR L AWYERS

HOMAGE [L. homo / a human being, a man] A feudal ceremony by which one man acknowledged himself to be the vassal or servant of his lord. A heroic act performed in the service of the lord, usu ally in exchange for a grant of land. Praise, tribute, an expression of high regard. HOMICIDE [L. homo / human being, man + caedere / to cut down, to kill] The killing of one human being by another. The word is used in its generic sense and is applied both to criminal killings and non-criminal killings. A criminal killing may be murder, manslaughter or the result of criminal negli gence. Examples of non-criminal killings: the execution of a criminal after sentence, a killing in self-defense, the killing by a police officer of a suspect who is forcefully resisting arrest. HOMICIDE SE DEFENDENDO A killing carried out in self defense. HOMICIDIUM IN RIXO [L. homocaedere / the killing of a human being + in rixo / in a fight or quarrel (from rixor, rixam / to engage in a brawl)] A homicide committed in the course of a fight or brawl. HOMINUM CAUSA JUS CONSTITUTUM EST The law is designed to benefit mankind. HOMO LIBER [L. homo / a man + liber / free] A free man. Only free men were eligible to serve as jurors. HONOR [L. honorare / to honor, pay tribute to, adorn] In the law, the word has several distinct meanings. It is used as a form of courteous address to judges and public officials of high rank; e.g, the Mayor of New York. In the law of negotiable instruments, it means the acceptance or payment of a note, check or bill of exchange according to its terms. To dis honor a negotiable instrument is to refuse or fail to pay it upon maturity or according to its terms. HONORARIUM [L. honorarius / done as an act of honor or respect] A fee or benefit paid to someone who performs a service for which payment is not legally required or the value of which cannot legally be fixed. A service for which payment is not usually expected. A voluntary payment for a perfor mance; e.g., a speech, under circumstances in which payment is not usually expected and cannot be demanded. Members of Congress cannot freely accept honoraria .

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