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Simple English definitions for legal terms
caput gerat lupinum
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A quick definition of caput gerat lupinum:
Caput gerat lupinum: A Latin phrase that means "let him bear the head of a wolf." In history, it referred to an outlawed person who was considered a pariah and could be attacked by anyone. This person was like a lone wolf and had no protection from the law. The community had the right and duty to pursue and punish them, even to the point of burning their house and killing them. The court would declare someone caput gerat lupinum to make them an outlaw.
A more thorough explanation:
Caput Gerat Lupinum is a Latin phrase that means "let him bear the head of a wolf." In history, it was used to describe an outlawed felon who was considered a pariah, or a lone wolf, and was open to attack by anyone.
For example, if someone committed a serious crime and was declared an outlaw, they would be considered a Caput Gerat Lupinum. This meant that they were no longer protected by the law and could be hunted down and punished by anyone.
The phrase was used to emphasize the severity of outlawry and to encourage people to take action against those who broke the law. It was a way of saying that outlaws were not just criminals, but dangerous animals that needed to be hunted down and eliminated.