The words of law, retranslated into plain Italian.
Il Dizionario del Diavolo · N° VIII
«Sicché (“so that”, in courtroom Italian): the word that pretends to explain and in fact shuts the door.»
The law does not use words. The law is made of words. And "sicché" is not just a vintage connective. It is the point where the argument claims to draw…
Il Dizionario del Diavolo · N° VII
«De quo (“of which”, in courtroom Latin): latin for something not even jurists themselves quite understand.»
The law does not use words. The law is made of words. And de quo is not one of those words "that cannot be translated". It is a drawing-room Latinism…
Il Dizionario del Diavolo · N° VI
«Ritenuto che (“Whereas it is held that”): the formula by which a judge stops being a person and becomes a passive, impersonal voice.»
The law does not use words. The law is made of words. And "ritenuto che" — "whereas it is held that" — is not harmless. It is the point where the judg…
Il Dizionario del Diavolo · N° V
«Nella specie (“in the species at hand”): the formula by which the jurist says «in this case» without saying it.»
The law does not use words. The law is made of words. And "nella specie" — literally "in the species" — is not a technical formula. It is a piece of z…
Il Dizionario del Diavolo · N° IV
«Voglia l'Ecc.mo Tribunale (“May the Most Excellent Court be pleased to…”): the medieval plea we keep writing without even noticing.»
The law does not use words. The law is made of words. And "voglia l'Ecc.mo Tribunale" — "may the Most Excellent Court be pleased to…" — is not a techn…
📖 All the dictionary entries
Free reading · no registration · new entries coming