Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Modus: A word that means "mode" or "manner." In criminal law, it refers to the way in which a crime was committed. In Roman and civil law, it refers to the way in which a gift or other legal arrangement is to be used. In ecclesiastical law, it is related to the way in which tithes are collected. It is similar to the term "modus operandi," which means the way in which someone operates or does something.
Definition: Modus (moh-dus) is a Latin term that has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used.
Overall, modus refers to the way in which something is done or carried out, whether it be a crime, legal arrangement, or religious practice.
Example: If someone is charged with murder, the modus would describe how the victim was killed, such as by strangulation or gunshot. In Roman law, if someone leaves a piece of property to their children, the modus would describe how the property should be divided among them. In ecclesiastical law, the modus decimandi would describe how much of a person's income should be given to the church as a tithe.
These examples illustrate how modus is used to describe the manner in which something is done or carried out, whether it be a crime, legal arrangement, or religious practice.