Iamnotadictionary Phrase Of The Day: Capitus Diminutia Maxima

Have you ever wondered why you had to fill out so much extensive paper work when applying for a job? Have you ever been curious as to why your credit score was so important? Have you ever tried signing up for power, water, a cell phone plan, cable TV or internet and you had to give out your Social Security Number? Well… Here is the Answer to all of the above mentioned questions…but first, a little history….

The Great Society of Rome… The Forefather to the Romance languages, The Creator of the concept of “Republic,” (and later Despotism) the primary Pinnacle of Western Society itself. If anyone knew how to make a law, code, decree, mandate, or precedence, it was Rome… Here are a few Phrases most of you (if not all) will find very interesting

1) Capitis Diminutio Minima

2) Capitis Diminutio Media

and the most interesting…

3) Capitis Diminutio Maxima

These Phrases are in Latin and in were enforced in Roman Law. They referred to one’s Status within the Society itself. I’ll briefly explain each one and their meaning one at a time.

1) Capitis Diminutio Minima

The Romans were Fanatical about names, family names, social status, documentation and record keeping. They would go as far as to have different grammatical tools within words to act as a type of flag system… This might sound a little odd; however it’s a fairly basic concept. Capitis Diminutia Minima was used in Roman Court records to acknowledge separation of an Individual from a Family…(Marriage, Exile, inheritance, and so on) The individuals name on all the records involving that case would be spelled as follows

(more…)

PHP Freelancer