Legal Vocabulary

We hope that you have been diligent in your preparation for CLAT. As you know, you may be quizzed on the meaning of legal terms and phrases and maxims during CLAT. Here is a list of terms, phrases and maxims used in legal parlance that you should know about.

1. Dactylography

Meaning: The scientific study of fingerprints as a method of identification.

 

2. Bonum factum (Latin)

Meaning: A good or proper act or deed.

 

3. Forfeiture

Meaning: Divestiture of specific property without compensation in consequence of some default or act forbidden by law.

 

4. Impaired capital

Meaning: Capital which is worth less than the par value of the issued stock.

 

5. Causa causator proxima

Meaning: The immediate or next cause.

 

6. Gentlemen’s agreement

Meaning: Generally an unsigned and unenforceable agreement made between parties who expect its performance because of good faith.

 

7. Maxima illecebra est peccandi impunitatis

Meaning: The greatest incitement to guilt is the hope of sinning with impunity.

 

8. Notation

Meaning: The process of making a memorandum of some special circumstance on a probate or letters of administration.

 

9. Contra formam statuti (Latin)

Meaning: Against the form of the statute.

 

10. Embezzlement

Meaning: Dishonest misappropriation of property by a person, who comes in possession thereof lawfully.

 

11. Heir presumptive

Meaning: An heir, whose right to an inheritance may be defeated by a birth of a nearer relative.

 

12. Judex damnatur cum nocens absolvitur

Meaning: The judge is condemned, when a guilty person escapes punishment.

 

13. Malapportionment

Meaning: The combined effect of legislative districts whose boundaries are improperly drawn.

 

14. Nemo agit in seipsum

Meaning: No man acts against himself.

 

15. Testamentary causes

Meaning: Causes or matters relating to the probate of wills.

 

16. Veritas est justitiae mater

Meaning: Trust is the mother of justice.

 

17. Vis major

Meaning: Act of God.

 

18. Nulla bona

Meaning: No goods.

 

19. Expunge

Meaning: To strike out from a record.

 

20. Oligopsony

Meaning: A market where a few buyers have buying powers.

 

21. Laggard

Meaning: A share that does not keep up with the average price of comparable shares.

 

22. Quod approbo non reprobo

Meaning: I cannot approve and reject at the same time.

 

Do you know what these terms mean?

Impeachable waste

1. To pledge wastefully
2. Waste which results in liability on the part of the person committing it
3. Wastage of a witness for want of veracity
4. Formally destroying evidence which is not admissible in a court of law

Khiraj

1. The land revenue
2. The outer structure of a permanent natural object
3. A moving apparatus used in crime
4. Mistress of the estate

 

Cedant arma togae

1. The condition applies to bachelors
2. To be powerful you have to argue well
3. Let military power be subject to military power
4. Expression of disappointment in the proceedings

 

Original assignor

1. An origin in accordance with the law
2. A person who originally makes an assignment
3. A person who originally completes an assignment
4. The body of law derived from medieval statutes

 

Pari material

1. Analogous
2. Equally to blame
3. Impossible to materialize
4. In the same matter

 

Bear

1. One who intrigues for a fall in a market
2. One who procures opportunities for illicit relations
3. A scene of wild uproar
4. Denoted through a mixture of two languages

 

Debitor non praesumitur donare

1. A debt due at present to be paid in future
2. A debt which gives rise to a lien will have to be paid back before the creditor is forced to sue for payment
3. The rights of creditors can neither be taken away nor diminished by agreements among debtors
4. Every man has the right to procure a debt and pay reasonable interest

 

Judicia posteriora sunt in lege fortiori

1. The latter decisions are the stronger in law
2. To a judge exceeding his office, there will be no remedy in contempt of court
3. Judgement must take into account the circumstances
4. Justice delayed is justice denied

 

ANSWER KEY

1. b) Waste which results in liability on the part of the person committing it
2. a) The land revenue
3. c) Let military power be subject to military power
4. b) A person who originally makes an assignment
5. d) In the same matter
6. c) One who intrigues for a fall in a market
7. c) The rights of creditors can neither be taken away nor diminished by agreements among debtors
8. a) The latter decisions are the stronger in law