Legal Definitions - editus

Editus is a historical legal term, an adjective, with two primary meanings:

• 1. Enacted or Promulgated (for statutes or rules): This refers to a law, regulation, or rule that has been officially passed, put into effect, and made public.
• 2. Born or Brought Forth (for a child): This refers to the act of a child being born.

Examples for Meaning 1 (Enacted or Promulgated):

• Example 1: After months of debate and public hearings, the city council voted to approve a new zoning ordinance restricting the height of buildings in the historic district. Once signed by the mayor and officially published, the ordinance was considered editus.

  Explanation: This illustrates editus in the context of a new law (the zoning ordinance) being formally enacted and made public, thereby becoming legally binding.

• Example 2: A professional medical board finalized and released updated guidelines for patient data privacy. These guidelines, after their official publication, were deemed editus, signifying they were now in force for all licensed practitioners.

  Explanation: Here, editus describes the formal promulgation of new professional rules, indicating they have been officially put into effect and are now enforceable.

Examples for Meaning 2 (Born or Brought Forth):

• Example 1: In a 16th-century will, a nobleman might have stipulated that his estate would pass to "the first male heireditus of my eldest daughter," clearly designating the first son born to her as the inheritor.

  Explanation: This example uses editus to specify a child who has been born, which was crucial in historical legal documents for establishing lineage and succession rights.

• Example 2: An ancient property deed might refer to land being held in trust for "any children editus of the marriage between Lord and Lady Pembroke," ensuring that all offspring born to the couple would be included in the trust's beneficiaries.

  Explanation: Here, editus emphasizes the physical act of birth, ensuring that all children brought forth from a specific union are legally recognized for the purpose of the trust.