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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §50.17.56.pr

Preference for Lenient Interpretation in Doubtful Cases

Passage 9116 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This chunk presents a legal maxim stating that in doubtful or ambiguous cases, more favorable or lenient interpretations must always be preferred.

[IDEM libro tertio de legatis ad edictum urbicum. ] §50.17.56.prSemper in dubiis benigniora praeferenda sunt.
[THE SAME, in his third book on legacies with reference to the Edict of the City.] In doubtful matters, more favorable things are always to be preferred.

Notes

  1. §50.17.56.prin dubiis — The neuter plural ablative of the adjective dubius (doubtful) is used substantively with the preposition in, meaning "in doubtful matters" or "in cases of doubt."
  2. §50.17.56.prbenigniora — The comparative neuter plural nominative of benignus (kind, favorable, lenient), used substantively to denote "more favorable [interpretations/outcomes]."
  3. §50.17.56.prpraeferenda sunt — A passive periphrastic construction consisting of the gerundive (future passive participle) neuter plural nominative of praeferre (to prefer) and the verb sunt, expressing obligation or necessity ("must be preferred" or "are to be preferred").

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §50.17.56.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:50.17.56.pr

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