Legal Definitions - as

In ancient Roman and civil law, the term "as" carried two primary meanings:

• Historical Unit: Originally, "as" referred to a fundamental unit of weight in ancient Rome, equivalent to a Roman pound. It also designated a bronze coin of the same weight. This unit was significant because it was systematically divided into twelve smaller parts, known as uncia. This system of division was widely used to express fractions, particularly when calculating interest rates or determining portions of an inheritance.
• Whole Inheritance or Asset: More broadly and enduringly in Roman and civil law, "as" denoted the entirety of something – specifically, a complete inheritance or the absolute, undivided ownership of an asset. It represented the whole from which smaller portions could be derived.

Here are examples illustrating the second meaning of "as" as a whole inheritance or asset:

• Example 1 (Whole Inheritance):

  Imagine a wealthy Roman citizen, Cornelia, who passes away leaving behind a substantial estate, including lands, villas, and valuable artwork. Before any distribution to her heirs, the entirety of this estate – all her possessions and property combined – would be legally referred to as the as of her inheritance. If she had two children, each child would then inherit a specific fraction, such as one-half, of this complete as.

  Illustration: In this scenario, "as" represents the complete, undivided inheritance before it is distributed among the beneficiaries, signifying the whole of Cornelia's estate.

• Example 2 (Complete Asset Ownership):

  Consider a Roman merchant, Lucius, who owns a successful trading business, including a fleet of five cargo ships. If Lucius holds full and undisputed ownership of all five ships, without any partners having claims on specific vessels or any outstanding debts secured against them, the entire fleet could be referred to as an as in the context of his proprietary rights. He possesses the whole asset without fragmentation.

  Illustration: This example demonstrates "as" as representing the total, undivided ownership of a collection of assets (the entire fleet of ships) by a single individual, emphasizing the completeness of his ownership.