You searched for: “obiter
obiter (s) (noun), obiters (pl)
1. Primarily in legal contexts: made or said in passing; an incidental remark: "Obiter is the shorter term for obiter dictum: 'Something said by the way.' "
2. Etymology: from Latin, originally as the phrase ob itur, "by the way".
This entry is located in the following unit: dic-, dict- (page 7)
Word Entries containing the term: “obiter
obiter dictum (s) (noun); obiter dicta (pl)
In law, an expression of opinion on a matter of law, given by a judge in court in the course of either an argument or a judgment, but not forming an essential part of the reasons determining the decision, and therefore not a legally binding authority: "Generally, obiter dictum means anything said as an incidental statement or remark made by a judge and is not part of a final decision."

"When an obiter dictum is stated by a judge, it can be an opinion that may have some influence over the jury and the lawyers present; so, it is an opinion based on experience and wisdom but which has not been thoroughly researched, is not entered into a judgment, and so it has no legal force."

This entry is located in the following units: dic-, dict- (page 7) Latin Proverbs, Mottoes, Phrases, and Words: Group O (page 1)