reus Latin · revision 646

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈre.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈrɛː.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''reus''' ''m'' (genitive reī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably derived from [[m|la|rēs|t=matter, case]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879) De Vaan reconstructs [[inh|itc-pro|*rei-wo-|t=of wealth, of a case]], from a form [[m|ine-pro|*reh₁i-wo-]], with the same sound development as [[deus]] from [[m|itc-pro|*deiwos]];^(de Vaan 2008) the suffix may be a remaking of [[m|ine-pro|*reh₁i-went-|t=possessing wealth]], seen in [[sa|रयिवन्त्|tr=rayivánt-|t=rich]].^(de Vaan 2008) Walde, following Thurneysen, explained it instead as an old genitive of ''rēs'', so that “he is ''reus''” meant “he is a party to the case”.^(Walde 1906) Ernout and Meillet found the link with ''rēs'' weak in meaning, a doubt de Vaan does not share.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD gives a reconstruction *rēi̯os.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Roman grammarians already derived it from ''rēs'': Festus says that the ''reus'' is so called from the thing (res) that he has promised and owes.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first record is in the Twelve Tables of about 450 BC,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) where it names either party to a [[m|en|lawsuit]], plaintiff or defendant.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Cicero notes that in former times everyone whose interests were at stake in a case was called ''reus'',^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) but already in Plautus the word means the [[m|en|defendant]],^(OLD 2012) and this became the usual sense at all periods.^(Lewis & Short 1879) It was used with the genitive of the charge (''reus ambitus'', “accused of bribery”) and in set phrases for bringing someone to trial, such as ''reum facere'' and ''reum agere''.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) From the accused it passed to the person held responsible for an offence, the guilty party.^(OLD 2012)

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+ In Roman law it also meant the party under an obligation, a [[m|en|debtor]] or guarantor (''reus promittendi'', ''reus stipulandi''),^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) and in religion ''voti reus'' was one bound to fulfil a vow once it had been granted.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Ecclesiastical Latin used it for the culprit or sinner,^(Stelten 1995)^(Köbler 2010) and medieval Latin also as an adjective, “accused, guilty, sinful”.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it of either party to a lawsuit.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for the defendant in a criminal case.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero remarks that it once meant every party to a case.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Vergil uses ''voti reus'' of a man bound by a vow.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 223 AD – Ulpian and other jurists use it for a party to an obligation.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Either party to a [[m|en|lawsuit]], plaintiff or defendant.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The accused, the [[m|en|defendant]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) (feminine ''rea'') a woman on trial.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # The person responsible for an offence, the guilty party, the [[m|en|culprit]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(law)'' A party bound by an obligation; a [[m|en|debtor]] or guarantor.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''voti reus'': one bound to fulfil a [[m|en|vow]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A sinner, a criminal.^(Stelten 1995)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Descendants==

+ * Italian: [[m|it|reo]], [[m|it|rio]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Spanish: [[m|es|reo]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Portuguese: [[m|pt|réu]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Romanian: [[m|ro|rău]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Catalan: [[m|ca|reu]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Galician: [[m|gl|reu]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Dalmatian: [[m|dlm|ri]], [[m|dlm|re]], [[m|dlm|raja]], [[m|dlm|reja]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Aromanian: [[m|rup|arãu]]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Middle French: [[m|frm|ré]]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[correus]]

+ * [[rea]]

+ * [[reātus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rēs]]

+ * [[en|mens rea]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Reus'' was the defendant as against the accuser (''accusator'') and the judge (''iudex'').^(Georges 1913) The feminine is ''rea'', which is also used figuratively, as when Ovid calls the faithless mistress “guilty”.^(OLD 2012)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}