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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §50.16.158.pr

Use of Singular Terms to Encompass Multiple Things

Passage 8972 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Citing Cascellius, this passage explains that a singular term is often used in legal contexts to mean a plural, with examples such as 'many a man' or 'fish', and demonstrates that 'heir' in stipulations encompasses multiple heirs.

[CELSUS libro uicensimo quinto digestorum. ] §50.16.158.prIn usu iuris frequenter uti nos Cascellius ait singulari appellatione, cum plura generis eiusdem significare uellemus: nam 'multum hominem uenisse Romam' et 'piscem uilem esse' dicimus. item in stipulando satis habemus de herede cauere 'si ea res secundum me heredemue meum iudicata erit' et rursus 'quod ob eam rem te heredemue tuum': nempe aeque si plures heredes sint, continentur stipulatione.
[CELSUS, in the twenty-fifth book of the Digests.]\n\nCascellius says that in legal usage we frequently employ a singular designation when we wish to signify more than one thing of the same class; for we say 'that many a man has come to Rome' and 'that fish is cheap.' Likewise, in making a stipulation, we deem it sufficient to provide security regarding the heir by saying 'if that matter shall have been decided in favor of me or my heir,' and again, '[whatever] on account of that matter you or your heir [ought to do/pay]'; for indeed, even if there are several heirs, they are equally included in the stipulation.

Notes

  1. §50.16.158.prsingulari appellatione — Meaning 'singular designation/appellation'. It refers to grammatical singular nouns, explaining a legal interpretation method (mentioned by Cascellius) where a singular term is used to represent plural items of the same class.
  2. §50.16.158.prmultum hominem — Although grammatically combining a singular noun (hominem) with a singular adjective (multum), it is an idiomatic or colloquial expression meaning 'many a man' or 'many people' (multi homines).
  3. §50.16.158.prsecundum me — The preposition secundum followed by the accusative (me). In the context of judicial decisions or judgments, it has the meaning of 'in favor of' (literally, 'according to').
  4. §50.16.158.prquod ob eam rem te heredemue tuum — An elliptical form of a formulaic expression used in stipulations. It is generally understood by supplying a verb phrase like dare facere oportet ('ought to give or do') at the end.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §50.16.158.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:50.16.158.pr

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