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“compos mentis”
Compos mentis.
1. Of sound mind, memory, and understanding; sane.
2. In law, competent to go to trial.
3. If someone is compos mentis, he/she is able to think clearly and is responsible for her/his actions: "My sister was quite old, when I last saw her, but she was definitely compos mentis."
2. In law, competent to go to trial.
3. If someone is compos mentis, he/she is able to think clearly and is responsible for her/his actions: "My sister was quite old, when I last saw her, but she was definitely compos mentis."
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menti-, ment-
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Compos mentis.
Of sound mind, sane.
A person who is in his/her right mind is adjudged compos mentis; literally, as "in full possession of mental powers". This term and non compos mentis are properly used in legal writing and court testimony and are not supposed to be used loosely by people "unqualified to make either judgment" of another person.
This entry is located in the following unit:
Latin Proverbs, Mottoes, Phrases, and Words: Group C
(page 4)
Word Entries containing the term:
“compos mentis”
Non compos mentis (adjective) (no comparatives)
Translation: "Not of sound mind"
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Said of a lunatic, idiot, drunkard, or one who has lost his or her memory and understanding by accident or as a result of a disease.
Non compos mentis is the legal expression used for any form of mental unsoundness. See compos mentis for the opposite condition.
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This entry is located in the following units:
Latin Proverbs, Mottoes, Phrases, and Words: Group N
(page 4)
non- +
(page 1)