Latin for Lawyers

CAUTIO

See CAUSA CAUTIO [L. caution, care] Caution, prudence; also, security, bond, bail. CAUTIO PRO EXPENSIS Security for expenses. CAVEAT [L. cavere / to beware of, guard against]

A warning or notice alerting the recipient to exercise caution before acting; e.g., notice to a reader to alert her to an important point in the text; to a judge to discourage him from performing certain acts or from proceeding in a liti gation; or to the Patent Office by an inventor to prevent issuance of a patent to another applicant. CAVEAT ACTOR Let the person who will commit the act beware. CAVEAT EMPTOR [L. caveat + emptor / buyer, purchaser] Let the buyer beware; a warning to the purchaser that he buys at his own risk. The common law doctrine known as caveat emptor has been modified in favor of the consumer by statutes and decisions confirming various obliga tions of the seller or manufucturer, such as the warranties of fitness and mer chantability. CAVEAT VENDITOR Let the seller beware. CAVEAT VIATOR [L. caveat + viator / traveler] Let the traveler beware. CEDE [L. cedo, cedere / to go, proceed; to withdraw] To yield or give. To surrender a territory or land area, usually by way of treaty. To transfer or assign. CENSOR [L. censor / censor, magistrate; the Roman official responsible for the census] In Roman times, a magistrate who was responsible for the census; also, a severe judge. An official who is delegated to examine books, movies, pro grams on TV or radio, etc., to determine whether they contain objectionable material or content. Also, an official assigned to examine sensitive material in time of war to eliminate messages potentially harmful to the enemy.

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