Historic Q - V

Historic/Latin Terminology

quâ [always italicized] 

who – considered as, acting in the capacity of: A husband, quâ husband, cannot be made to testify against his wife.

quaere [always italicized] 

question – open to doubt; a rule or decision considered questionable

quantum [singular] quanta [plural]

amount/amounts: Quantum physics investigates amounts of energy within atoms.

quantum meruit 

as much as deserved – extent of contractual liability implied by equity:

He only bid $100 for the job; but it took three days, so I think he deserves to be paid more.

quasi 

as if – indicating a resemblance, having a likeness to something:

He spoke with authority, and his remarks sounded quasi-official.

quid pro quo 

something for something – to identify what each party to an agreement expects from the other, sometimes called "mutual consideration"

Q.E.D. [quod erat demostrandum] 

which was to be demonstrated – a term applied to anything obviously true or something which requires very little or no evidence

q.v. [quod vide] 

which see – a reference or a citation to another item of source

re [a form of res] 

a thing – concerning something, in the matter of, often with only one party: 

Did the Court reach a decision in re Estate of Mobius?

remittitur 

it is to be given back – an order reducing a grossly excessive jury award

res

 things – subject matter in a civil case

res gestae 

things shown – facts admitted into evidence which otherwise would be hearsay

res ipsa loquitur 

the thing speaks for itself

res judicata 

decided thing – matter acted upon or decided finally, a conclusive decision by a court

res publica

 public thing – a state, republic, or commonwealth

semble [always italicized]

it seems, it appears – a word used in printed summaries of court opinions where a point of law was not directly decided or the ruling was obscure

seriatim 

in a series – one by one, one after another, separately, individually

sic [italicized and placed in parentheses/brackets]

thus – a word used, usually parenthetically, to indicate that what appears on the record actually was said, even though it is obviously in error: 

She was born on June 1, 2004, and turned five in 2006 [sic].

sine die 

without a day – adjournment without a specified time to reconvene

sine qua non 

without which there is nothing – an essential ingredient or condition: 

A ripe banana is the sine qua non of a banana split.

situs 

place – location, particularly in determining jurisdiction, but also of a crime

sotto voce 

under the voice – in soft tones, whispered, not intended to be overheard, as at a sidebar

(1) status quo ante (2) stare decisis

(1) status as it was earlier – a return to a previous situation or condition

(2) let the decision stand – the principle that prior court rulings should be followed

sua sponte

by his own will – without prompting, voluntary; a court acting on its own motion

sub nom. [sub nominee, always italicized]

under the name – in the name of, under the title of

sub rosa

under the rose – confidential, secret, unpublished

subpoena

under penalty [of law] – generally referring to an order to appear in court

summa cum laude

with high praise – highest honor granted with a college degree

supra

above - referring to material coming earlier, particularly in a document

ultra vires

beyond the power – an act beyond authority of a person or corp. to perform

ux. [uxor]

Wife

venire [venire facias]

to come, to appear in court. A judicial writ directing the sheriff to summon a specified number of qualified persons to serve as jurors.

venue

 arrived [at a place] – particularly referring to a court's jurisdiction

verbatim

word for word

viva voce

with the living voice – oral testimony, as opposed to documentary evidence

voir dire 

to see, to say – examination of a witness, particularly an expert, to establish his or her qualifications; also to determine a prospective juror's qualifications to be a member of the jury panel