Numerius Negidius
Encyclopedia
Numerius Negidius is a name used in jurisprudence
in ancient Rome
based on a play on words: Numerius Negidius means "one who denies (negat) that he should pay (numerare)", and was used specifically to refer to the defendant in a hypothetical lawsuit.
The plaintiff was referred to as Aulus Agerius. Aulus
is a legitimate, if rare, Roman praenomen
, and Agerius suggests the Latin verb ago, meaning "to put in motion", as it is the plaintiff who sets a lawsuit in motion.
One well-known legal formula, a model instruction to the judge in a civil lawsuit, began as follows: Si paret Numerium Negidium Aulo Agerio sestertium decem milia dare oportere, meaning "If it appears that Numerius Negidius ought to pay Aulus Agerius ten thousand sesterces
". In actual use, the names and amounts would be changed to the appropriate values.
The initials N.N. can also stand for "name unknown" (Nomen nescio
). As such it was roughly equivalent to John Doe
.
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
in ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
based on a play on words: Numerius Negidius means "one who denies (negat) that he should pay (numerare)", and was used specifically to refer to the defendant in a hypothetical lawsuit.
The plaintiff was referred to as Aulus Agerius. Aulus
Aulus
Aulus is one of the small group of common forenames found in the culture of ancient Rome.The name was traditionally connected with Latin aula, olla, "palace", but this is most likely a false etymology...
is a legitimate, if rare, Roman praenomen
Praenomen
The praenomen was a personal name chosen by the parents of a Roman child. It was first bestowed on the dies lustricus , the eighth day after the birth of a girl, or the ninth day after the birth of a boy...
, and Agerius suggests the Latin verb ago, meaning "to put in motion", as it is the plaintiff who sets a lawsuit in motion.
One well-known legal formula, a model instruction to the judge in a civil lawsuit, began as follows: Si paret Numerium Negidium Aulo Agerio sestertium decem milia dare oportere, meaning "If it appears that Numerius Negidius ought to pay Aulus Agerius ten thousand sesterces
Sestertius
The sestertius, or sesterce, was an ancient Roman coin. During the Roman Republic it was a small, silver coin issued only on rare occasions...
". In actual use, the names and amounts would be changed to the appropriate values.
The initials N.N. can also stand for "name unknown" (Nomen nescio
Nomen nescio
Nomen nescio, abbreviated to N.N., is used to signify an anonymous or non-specific person. From Latin nomen, name, and nescire, not to know, be ignorant of. Together, I do not know the name....
). As such it was roughly equivalent to John Doe
John Doe
The name "John Doe" is used as a placeholder name in a legal action, case or discussion for a male party, whose true identity is unknown or must be withheld for legal reasons. The name is also used to refer to a male corpse or hospital patient whose identity is unknown...
.