Sentinas, -atis, adjective
of, from,
belonging to Sentinum, a town in the East-central part of Italy near the
Adriatic Sea and close to the Via Flaminia. It was the site in 295 BCE of a
decisive victory by the Romans, led by Publius Decius Mus, over the Gauls and
the Samnites.
rea, -ae, f.
a party in a lawsuit;
accused person, defendant. The nature of the charge is unknown, but
Valerius' description leads Marshall to identify it as a formal criminal
inquiry (pp. 48, 51).
causa, -ae, f.
a lawsuit, trial.
With agit below: plead at a trial, plead a case.
praetor, -oris, m.
praetor, judicial
magistrate. An annually elected Roman magistrate whose office was just
below that of the consuls. He was escorted by six armed lictores and
wore the toga praetexta. The praetor urbanus remained in Rome,
primarily as a judge in the law courts, but he could also convene the
comitia and initiate legislation. During the Republic and early Empire
this magistrate published an edict (Praetor's Edict) at the beginning of his
term of office detailing specifics of his tenure over and above those of prior
praetors (whose edicts could be modified or expanded but not
withdrawn).
Lucius Titus is unknown, but scholarly consensus places him in the first half of the first century B.C. (see Marshall, "Roman Ladies on Trial," note 2).
iudicium, -i, n.
judgment,
decision, opinion, trial. With cogente: preside over court, judge
the case; the Praetor is not alone in giving judgment.
concursus, -us, m.
gathering,
assembly. The case attracted public interest, whether for the nature of the
charge or the rarity of a female advocate.
modus, -i, m.
form, type;
together with numerus, a reference to elements in the formal speech of
defense.
numerus, -i, m.
number; category;
part.
defensio, -onis, f.
defense,
speech.
non solum…sed etiam: not only…but also.
diligenter, adverb
carefully,
attentively, diligently, assiduously.
fortiter, adverb
bravely,
boldly.
ex(s)equor, ex(s)equi, ex(s)ecutus sum
follow; pursue; describe, relate (speech); supply est.
actio, -onis, f.
action in a court of
justice, suit at law, process. Prima actio = the first
hearing, the first part of a criminal case during which the accuser
outlined the charges, the defendant responded and witnesses were presented.
Usually, after several days the Secunda Actio, the second hearing
followed with responses, after which the jury voted. Maesia's noteworthy
defense brought her judges to the vote.
cuncti, -ae, -a
all together, all
other.
sententia, -ae, f.
opinion,
decision; vote; the judgment was determined by a court whose members are
unknown.
libero (1)
aquit; cause (a charge)
to be dropped.
quam = illam.
quia, conjunction
because.
sub + ablative case
under.
species, -ei f.
appearance,
guise.
virilis, -e
characteristic or
worthy of a true man; masculine, virile.
animus, -i, m.
reason, thought,
belief, inclination, nature.
gero, gerere, gessi, gestum
wear;
exhibit; carry on .
Androgynus -i m., Greek
hermaphrodite. Androgynen = feminine Greek accusative, and thus
she was nicknamed "Androgyny"; perhaps an honorary term in tribute to her
courage in coming before a male court packed by a curious public and to her
winning logic, rather than censorious or belittling.
appello (1)
call, name,
term.
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