Latin for Lawyers

INTER ALIA [L. among other things] Used when quoting only a portion of a statute or regulation, or a part of a judge’s opinion, or a document or writing; e.g., “the statute provides inter alia ...” INTER ALIOS Among or between others (other persons). INTER ARMA SILENT LEGES In time of war, law falls silent. INTERCEPT [L. inter / among + capio, capere / to take or seize] To stop an action after it has begun. To seize an object which has been launched or released, as to intercept a plane or a missile. To eavesdrop upon or divert a communication directed to another recipient, as to intercept a tele phone call. It is a violation of federal law to intercept any “wire, oral, or elec tronic communication.” USCA § 2511. INTER CONJUGES [L. inter + coniungo, coniungere / to join together] Between husband and wife. Matters relating to a marriage. INTERDICT [L. inter + dicere / to point out, to indicate, to say] To forbid or prohibit. A decree or order asserting a prohibition. A decree of censure by the Catholic Church withdrawing the sacraments and the right of Christian burial. INTEREST [L inter / between, among + sum, esse / to be] The right to own, possess or share in something. A right or privilege recog nized and protected by the law. Interests are of all types and all degrees. A beneficial interest is the right to enjoy the use and benefit of property. A con trolling interest is the ownership of sufficient stock in a corporation to control decision-making. A future interest is an interest which will come into exist ence only at some future time or upon the happening of some event in the future. An insurable interest is such an interest in a person or in property as to guarantee that the holder of the interest would prefer the continued existence of the person or property insured to recovery under an insurance policy. The public interest consists of all those things which the general public needs to secure its welfare. Interest is also a charge for the borrowing of money, usu ally computed at a percentage of the amount loaned. The income earned from the investment of capital. INTERFERENCE [L. inter / between among + ferio, ferire / to strike or hit] The act of entering into or influencing the affairs and concerns of others. To meddle, disturb or infringe upon. In patent law, an interference is a proceed-

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