Common latin words and phrases

Latin in record names

 

liber and libri translate to book and books respectively

libri assedationis are the setting books (the Lord's rent rolls of his tenants)

libri cancellarii are the books of the Chancery Court

libri juramentorum literally translates to books of oaths

libri placitorum literally translate to pleas books

libri rotulorum translate to the books of rolls

libri scaccarii are the books of the Exchequer Court

libri vastarum literally translate to the books of wastes (the Lord's record of the allocation of new tenants)

 

Latin in land records

 

cum cetris variously abbreviated to cu cetr and similar = with the others

ibidem is generally abbreviated to ibm = in the same place, at the moment, in that matter.

imprimis abbreviated to ims= first

in manu[s] domini = into the hands of the Lord

loco suo = joined in place ?

predictus often abbreviated to pred = aforesaid

pro often abbreviated to p = on behalf of

ut ante = as before

ut supra often abbreviated to ut supr = as above

dimidium invariably abbreviated to d di or dim = half

 

Parish names

 

In old documents parishes are often referred to by the name of their dedicated saint. Those for which the modern version is not obvious are

 

Parochia St Columbus is the Parish of Arbory

Parochia St Lupus is the Parish of Malew

Parochia St Runius is the Parish of Marown

Parochia St Andrew is the Parish of Andreas

Parochia St Bridget is the Parish of Bride

Parochia St Machutus is the Parish of Maughold

Parochia St Mary is the Parish of Ballaugh

Both Rushen and Lezayre are dedicated to the Holy Trinity

 

Latin in wills

 

als = abbreviation for alias. Used to distinguish between a woman's maiden and married names.

probatum est et solvit = (The probate is) approved and paid for

testis / testes = witness / witnesses

 

Latin in court records

 

Each sitting of a court typically begins with a summary paragraph. The following is an example of the general form (which happens to be taken from a court martial in the 1600 Liber Scaccarii). Cur Exchequer tent apd Cast Rushen xvith die Octobirs Ao dm 1599 Coram Robto Molyneux Arminger deputat Thom Gowan milit Capit Ewam Moore Compr Tho: Sampsbury et John Curghie Judic et allis officiar [] et ibm prsent. My translation of this is Court of the Exchequer held at Castle Rushen on the 16th day of October in the year of the Lord 1599, in the presence of Robert Molyneux deputy governor, Thomas Gowan military captain, Ewan Moore Comptroller, Thomas Sampsbury and John Curghie Deemsters and all of the officers presenting here.

 

The definition of some common words is given below.

 

anno domini often abbreviated to Ao dm = in the year of the Lord

apud = at

coram = in the presence of

curia sometimes abbreviated to cur = court

die = on the day

judicis = judge

juratis = juror

sacrementum = oath

tentus = held