Lesson 7 Latin for Lawyers, Judges and Notaries Public

Latin Lesson: Hic Haec Hoc (this, these)

Introduction

The demonstrative adjective and pronoun "hic haec hoc" is essential in legal Latin, used to refer to specific items, documents, or parties in legal texts. This lesson will cover its forms and usage in legal contexts.

Part A (Interleaved English and Latin Text)

7.1 Hic this iūdex judge sententiam sentence dīcit pronounces

7.2 Haec this lēx law cīvēs citizens dēfendit protects

7.3 Hoc this testāmentum will valēre to be valid dēbet ought

7.4 Hunc this contractum contract subscrībō I sign

7.5 Hanc this causam case dēfendimus we defend

7.6 Hōc with this sigillō seal litteras document firmāmus we confirm

7.7 Huic to this testī witness crēdimus we believe

7.8 Hāc by this lēge law teneor I am bound

7.9 Hī these iūdicēs judges causam case cognōscunt examine

7.10 Hae these tabulae documents testāmentum will continent contain

7.11 Haec these iūra rights servāre to preserve dēbēmus we ought

7.12 Hōs these testēs witnesses interrogāmus we question

7.13 Hās these stipulātiōnēs stipulations scrībimus we write

7.14 Hīs to these lītīgantibus litigants respondēmus we respond

7.15 Hīs by these argumentīs arguments causam case probāmus we prove

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Part B (Complete Sentences)

7.1 Hic iūdex sententiam dīcit. This judge pronounces the sentence.

7.2 Haec lēx cīvēs dēfendit. This law protects the citizens.

7.3 Hoc testāmentum valēre dēbet. This will ought to be valid.

7.4 Hunc contractum subscrībō. I sign this contract.

7.5 Hanc causam dēfendimus. We defend this case.

7.6 Hōc sigillō litterās firmāmus. We confirm the document with this seal.

7.7 Huic testī crēdimus. We believe this witness.

7.8 Hāc lēge teneor. I am bound by this law.

7.9 Hī iūdicēs causam cognōscunt. These judges examine the case.

7.10 Hae tabulae testāmentum continent. These documents contain the will.

7.11 Haec iūra servāre dēbēmus. We ought to preserve these rights.

7.12 Hōs testēs interrogāmus. We question these witnesses.

7.13 Hās stipulātiōnēs scrībimus. We write these stipulations.

7.14 Hīs lītīgantibus respondēmus. We respond to these litigants.

7.15 Hīs argumentīs causam probāmus. We prove the case by these arguments.

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Part C (Latin Only)

7.1 Hic iūdex sententiam dīcit.

7.2 Haec lēx cīvēs dēfendit.

7.3 Hoc testāmentum valēre dēbet.

7.4 Hunc contractum subscrībō.

7.5 Hanc causam dēfendimus.

7.6 Hōc sigillō litterās firmāmus.

7.7 Huic testī crēdimus.

7.8 Hāc lēge teneor.

7.9 Hī iūdicēs causam cognōscunt.

7.10 Hae tabulae testāmentum continent.

7.11 Haec iūra servāre dēbēmus.

7.12 Hōs testēs interrogāmus.

7.13 Hās stipulātiōnēs scrībimus.

7.14 Hīs lītīgantibus respondēmus.

7.15 Hīs argumentīs causam probāmus.

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Part D (Grammar Explanation)

For English speakers learning legal Latin, "hic haec hoc" functions as both a demonstrative adjective ("this, these") and a demonstrative pronoun. Here's how it works:

1. Forms: Singular:

   • Masculine: hic, huius, huic, hunc, hōc

   • Feminine: haec, huius, huic, hanc, hāc

   • Neuter: hoc, huius, huic, hoc, hōc

   Plural:

   • Masculine: hī, hōrum, hīs, hōs, hīs

   • Feminine: hae, hārum, hīs, hās, hīs

   • Neuter: haec, hōrum, hīs, haec, hīs

2. Usage in Legal Latin:

   • Points to specific items: "hoc testāmentum" (this will)

   • Refers to immediate matters: "haec causa" (this case)

   • Indicates proximity in legal documents: "hae tabulae" (these documents)

3. Common Legal Contexts:

   • Identifying documents

   • Referring to specific laws

   • Pointing to evidence or testimony

   • Citing particular cases or arguments

4. Important Notes for English Speakers:

   • Unlike English "this," must agree in gender, number, and case

   • Often used in formal legal phrases

   • Can stand alone as a pronoun or modify nouns as an adjective

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Part E (Cultural Context)

For English-speaking law students and professionals, understanding "hic haec hoc" in Roman legal culture requires knowing:

1. Roman Legal Documents:

   • Precision in reference was crucial

   • Documents were often read aloud

   • Demonstratives helped maintain clarity

2. Court Procedures:

   • Formal pointing language was essential

   • Specific items needed clear identification

   • Physical documents were handled in court

3. Legal Writing:

   • Clear referencing was vital

   • Multiple documents required precise distinction

   • Modern legal Latin preserves these uses

4. Modern Application:

   • Still used in formal legal Latin

   • Important in reading historical law

   • Helps understand legal precedent

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Part F (Literary Citation)

Part F-A (Interleaved Text)

From Gaius's Institutes (1.1):

Hī these iūris of law praeceptā precepts sunt are: honestē honestly vīvere to live, alterum another nōn not laedere to harm, suum one's own cuique to each tribuere to give

Part F-B (Complete Translation)

Hī iūris praeceptā sunt: honestē vīvere, alterum nōn laedere, suum cuique tribuere. These are the precepts of law: to live honestly, not to harm another, to give to each his own.

Part F-C (Literary Analysis)

This fundamental text from Gaius uses "hī" to introduce the three basic principles of Roman law. The demonstrative emphasizes the immediate and essential nature of these precepts.

Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)

• "Hī" masculine plural nominative

• Agrees with "praeceptā" (neuter plural)

• Used as substantive demonstrative

• Links to following infinitive phrases

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Genre Section: Court Proceedings

Part A (Interleaved Text)

7.16 Hic this iūdex judge in in tribunālī tribunal causam case audit hears

7.17 Haec this mulier woman haereditātem inheritance petit seeks

7.18 Hoc this docūmentum document falsum false esse to be vidētur seems

7.19 Hunc this advocātum advocate reus defendant nōminat appoints

7.20 Hanc this testimōniī of testimony tabulam tablet iūdex judge legit reads

7.21 Huic to this accūsātiōnī accusation respondēre to respond dēbēmus we must

7.22 Hōc by this iūre law prōvincia province regitur is governed

7.23 Hī these testēs witnesses vērum truth dīcere to speak iūrant swear

7.24 Hae these litterae documents sigillō with seal pūblicō public mūnītae fortified sunt are

7.25 Haec these argūmenta arguments causam case nostram our confirmant strengthen

7.26 Hōs these fīnēs boundaries agrōrum of fields dēscrībimus we mark out

7.27 Hās these condiciōnēs conditions pācis of peace acceptāmus we accept

7.28 Hīs to these testibus witnesses fidem trust habēmus we have

7.29 Hīs with these verbīs words contractus contract compōnitur is composed

7.30 Hōc by this modō manner iūstitia justice administrātur is administered

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Part B (Complete Sentences)

7.16 Hic iūdex in tribunālī causam audit. This judge hears the case in the tribunal.

7.17 Haec mulier haereditātem petit. This woman seeks the inheritance.

7.18 Hoc docūmentum falsum esse vidētur. This document seems to be false.

7.19 Hunc advocātum reus nōminat. The defendant appoints this advocate.

7.20 Hanc testimōniī tabulam iūdex legit. The judge reads this tablet of testimony.

7.21 Huic accūsātiōnī respondēre dēbēmus. We must respond to this accusation.

7.22 Hōc iūre prōvincia regitur. The province is governed by this law.

7.23 Hī testēs vērum dīcere iūrant. These witnesses swear to speak the truth.

7.24 Hae litterae sigillō pūblicō mūnītae sunt. These documents are fortified with a public seal.

7.25 Haec argūmenta causam nostram confirmant. These arguments strengthen our case.

7.26 Hōs fīnēs agrōrum dēscrībimus. We mark out these boundaries of the fields.

7.27 Hās condiciōnēs pācis acceptāmus. We accept these conditions of peace.

7.28 Hīs testibus fidem habēmus. We have trust in these witnesses.

7.29 Hīs verbīs contractus compōnitur. The contract is composed with these words.

7.30 Hōc modō iūstitia administrātur. Justice is administered in this manner.

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Part C (Latin Only)

7.16 Hic iūdex in tribunālī causam audit.

7.17 Haec mulier haereditātem petit.

7.18 Hoc docūmentum falsum esse vidētur.

7.19 Hunc advocātum reus nōminat.

7.20 Hanc testimōniī tabulam iūdex legit.

7.21 Huic accūsātiōnī respondēre dēbēmus.

7.22 Hōc iūre prōvincia regitur.

7.23 Hī testēs vērum dīcere iūrant.

7.24 Hae litterae sigillō pūblicō mūnītae sunt.

7.25 Haec argūmenta causam nostram confirmant.

7.26 Hōs fīnēs agrōrum dēscrībimus.

7.27 Hās condiciōnēs pācis acceptāmus.

7.28 Hīs testibus fidem habēmus.

7.29 Hīs verbīs contractus compōnitur.

7.30 Hōc modō iūstitia administrātur.

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Part D (Grammar Explanation)

In Roman court proceedings, "hic haec hoc" serves several crucial legal functions:

1. Procedural References:

   • Points to present evidence: "hanc tabulam" (this tablet)

   • Indicates current proceedings: "hōc modō" (in this manner)

   • References active cases: "haec causa" (this case)

2. Legal Document Structure:

   • Formal document openings: "hīs verbīs" (with these words)

   • Official certifications: "hōc sigillō" (with this seal)

   • Boundary definitions: "hōs fīnēs" (these boundaries)

3. Special Legal Uses:

   • In witness statements: "hī testēs" (these witnesses)

   • For court rulings: "hāc sententiā" (by this judgment)

   • In contracts: "hae condiciōnēs" (these conditions)

4. Common Patterns in Legal Latin:

   • Ablative of means: "hōc modō" (in this way)

   • With legal abstracts: "hōc iūre" (by this law)

   • In formal declarations: "hīs verbīs" (in these words)

Key points for English speakers:

• Forms always agree with the nouns they modify

• Position often indicates emphasis in legal documents

• Used more formally than English "this/these"

• Essential for precise legal reference

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