Legal Definitions - nepos

In Roman law, *nepos* referred to a grandson. Historically, the term also meant a nephew, a usage that evolved through "neveu" into the modern English word "nephew."

Nepos

In the context of Roman law, nepos specifically designated a grandson. Over time, particularly in later historical periods, the term's usage broadened and shifted to commonly refer to a nephew.

• Example 1: Roman Inheritance Law

  Imagine a wealthy Roman citizen in the 1st century CE preparing their will. They might stipulate that their nepos, Gaius, should inherit a specific villa and a portion of their land. Here, the term nepos unequivocally refers to Gaius as the testator's grandson, demonstrating its precise meaning within the Roman legal framework for family lineage and inheritance.

• Example 2: Medieval Ecclesiastical Records

  A historian researching the medieval church might encounter a Latin chronicle from the 13th century detailing how a powerful cardinal appointed his nepos to a lucrative bishopric. In this later historical context, the term nepos would almost certainly refer to the cardinal's nephew, illustrating the historical shift in the word's meaning from its original Roman legal sense of a grandson to a nephew.