LEGALESE
According
to Webster, legalese is the "specialized language of
the legal profession." It has a negative connotation
among laypeople not associated with the law, and for good
reason: legal documents are notorious for their bloviating.
I can attest from firsthand knowledge that legal writing courses
specialize in quashing any creative spirit you may have (they
do not, however, condone the unnecessary use of Latin).
|
|
LEGALESE
Key: The word's language of origin appears directly below it, and to the right of that is an example sentence and an etymology, along with any related themes.
Word |
Phonetic Pronunciation |
Part of Speech |
Definition |
|
non SEK-wet-er |
|
1. an inference that does not follow from the premises
2. a statement that does not follow logically from anything
previously said |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
A well-timed non sequitur can be humorous, but an ill-timed one will make you look like
a fool.
Latin for “it does not follow”
Latin Phrases | Legalese
|
|
PEARL-yew |
|
1. an outlying or adjacent district;
plural : environs,
neighborhood
2. a frequently visited place : haunt;
plural : confines,
bounds |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
The prince was visibly uncomfortable in the company
of unwashed peasants, having long since grown accustomed to
the cushy purlieu of his father's
marble palace.
French, literally "pure place." In
medieval English law, land near a royal forest that was severed
from it was made purlieu; that is, pure or free from
forest laws.
Legalese
|
sine qua non
Latin |
sin-i kwa NAWN
sin-i kwa KNOWN |
noun |
an indispensable or essential thing |
Ex.
Etym.
Rel. Themes: |
For nearly 20 years, Alan Greenspan has been
the sine qua non of the Federal
Reserve Board.
Latin for “without which not”
Latin Phrases | Legalese
|
|
|
