The Language Layer

From "account," rooted in Old French aconter, "to count or reckon." Accountability is being required to give an account.

From Latin administrare, "to manage, serve, or carry out."

From Latin admittere, "to allow to enter."

From Latin advocare, "to call to one's aid," from ad "to" + vocare "to call."

From Medieval Latin affidavit, meaning “he has declared on oath.” It is related to words meaning trust, faith, or pledged truth.

From Latin agere, "to do, drive, or act." An agency is an entity empowered to act.

From Old English forms meaning a reply or response, especially a reply to a charge or question. In legal use, an answer responds to what has been claimed.

From Latin appellare, meaning “to address, call upon, or appeal to.” An appeal calls on a higher authority to review a decision.

Built from ordinary English legal language. “Reasonable” traces to Latin ratio, meaning reason or reckoning, and “doubt” traces to Latin dubitare, “to doubt or hesitate.”

“Burden” originally means a load or weight. “Proof” traces to Latin probare, “to test or prove.” The phrase carries the idea of carrying the weight of proving something.

“Chain” means a linked series. “Custody” comes from Latin custodia, meaning guarding, keeping, or protection. Together, the phrase describes linked custody over evidence.

From Latin citare, meaning "to summon, call forward, or cite." A citation calls the source forward.

From Old French clamer and Latin clamare, meaning “to call out or declare.” A claim is something formally asserted or called forward.

“Clear” traces to Latin clarus, meaning bright or evident. “Convincing” comes from Latin convincere, “to overcome or prove.” The phrase points to evidence strong enough to clearly persuade.

From Latin clericus, originally referring to a cleric or learned person. In later official use, clerk came to mean a literate recordkeeper or office officer.

From Old French complainte, related to Latin complangere, “to lament or express grievance.” In law, a complaint formally states a grievance or claim.

From Latin complere, "to fill up or complete," through later meanings of fulfilling an obligation.

From Latin continuare, "to join together or make continuous." In legal use, it carries the sense of carrying a matter forward to another date.

From Latin consilium, meaning "advice, plan, or deliberation."

From Old French court, related to Latin words for an enclosed yard, retinue, or official place. Over time, it became the place where authority and judgment are exercised.

From Latin declarare, meaning “to make clear, reveal, or announce.” A declaration makes a statement clear and formal.

From Latin defendere, meaning “to ward off, protect, or defend.” A defendant is the person responding to or defending against a claim.

From Old French descovrir and Latin roots meaning “to uncover.” In legal use, discovery is the process of uncovering and exchanging information.

The word likely developed from older English and French terms for a small note, label, or summary attached to papers.

“Due” traces to Latin debere, meaning “to owe.” “Process” comes from Latin procedere, “to go forward.” Due process is the process that is owed before certain actions are taken.

From Latin evidentia, meaning clearness or obviousness, related to videre, “to see.” Evidence is what helps make something visible or knowable.

From Latin exhibere, meaning “to hold out, present, or show.” An exhibit is something presented for review.

From the older practice of placing papers on a file or thread for storage and reference. A filing is a document formally placed into the record.

From Old English hieran, “to hear.” A hearing is a formal occasion where a person or issue may be heard.

A compound of "hear" + "say" — literally, something heard said by someone else.

From Old French jugement and Latin iudicium, meaning judgment or decision, from roots connected to law and saying or declaring.

From Latin iurisdictio, meaning “the speaking or declaring of law,” from ius, “law,” and dicere, “to say.”

“Legal” comes from Latin legalis, relating to law. “Advice” comes through Old French from words meaning an opinion, view, or counsel.

“Legal” comes from Latin legalis, relating to law. “Information” comes from Latin informare, meaning “to shape, instruct, or give form to understanding.”

From Latin mandare, "to entrust, order, or command."

"Material" comes from Latin materia, meaning "matter, substance, timber." "Fact" comes from Latin factum, "a thing done."

From Latin movere, meaning “to move.” In legal use, a motion asks the court to move or act on a specific request.

From Latin notitia, meaning knowledge or being known, from noscere, “to know.” Notice is information given so something becomes known.

From Latin ordo, meaning row, rank, arrangement, or order. A legal order arranges or directs what is to happen.

From "over" + "sight" — literally looking over something. In governance, it means supervision or review.

From Old French partie and Latin partire, meaning “to divide or share.” A party is one side or part of a legal matter.

From Latin petitio, meaning a request or seeking, from petere, “to seek, ask, or request.”

From petition, rooted in Latin petere, “to seek or ask.” A petitioner is the person who formally asks for action or relief.

"Plain" comes from Latin planus, meaning "flat, clear, or evident." "Language" comes from Latin lingua, "tongue or speech."

From Anglo-French plaintif, related to plainte, meaning complaint. A plaintiff is the complaining or claiming party.

From plead, through Old French and legal Latin forms connected to presenting or arguing a case. A pleading presents a party’s formal position in the record.

From Greek polis, "city," through words related to public affairs and governance.

“Preponderance” comes from Latin praeponderare, meaning “to outweigh.” The phrase points to evidence that carries greater weight than the evidence against it.

Word history pending

From Latin procedere, "to go forward." Procedure is the way a matter proceeds.

"Procedural" comes from procedere, "to go forward." "Literacy" comes from Latin littera, meaning "letter." Together, the phrase means being able to read and understand how a process moves forward.

“Public” comes from Latin publicus, “of the people.” “Record” comes from recordari, “to remember.” “Request” traces to Latin requirere, “to seek or ask for.”

From Latin recordari, "to remember" — literally, to bring back to the heart or mind.

From Latin regula, meaning "rule, straight stick, or standard."

From Latin remedium, meaning "a cure, healing, or means of help."

From Latin respondere, meaning “to answer.” A respondent is the party who responds to a petition, appeal, or request.

"Response" comes from Latin respondere, "to answer." "Record" comes from recordari, "to remember." Together, the phrase means an answer preserved in relation to what the record remembers.

“Self” comes from Old English self. “Representation” traces to Latin repraesentare, meaning “to present or show again.” Self-representation means presenting for oneself.

From Latin servitium, meaning service, duty, or condition of serving. In legal use, service can describe the formal duty of delivering notice or papers.

"Service" comes from Latin servitium, related to duty or service. "Process" comes from procedere, "to go forward." Together, service of process means formally serving papers that move a case forward.

"Standard" originally referred to a banner or rallying point, later a fixed measure. "Proof" traces to Latin probare, "to test."

From Old English standan, “to stand.” In legal use, standing carries the idea of being in the position to come before a court or decision-maker.

From Latin statutum, meaning "something set up or established."

From Latin sub poena, meaning “under penalty.” A subpoena commands action under threat of legal penalty.

From Latin substantia, meaning "substance" or "essential nature."

From Old French somondre and Latin summonere, meaning “to remind, warn, or call up.” A summons calls a person to appear or respond.

From Latin testimonium, meaning "evidence, attestation, or witness statement."

From Latin transparere, "to show through," from trans "through" + parere "to appear."

"Unauthorized" means not granted authority. "Practice" comes from Greek praktikos, related to action or doing. "Law" traces to Old Norse lagu, meaning something laid down or fixed.

From Old French venue, meaning coming or arrival, from venir, “to come.” In legal use, venue is the place where a matter comes before a court.