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Justinian code

Justinian code

9.3
A collection of Roman civil laws made under Emperor Justinian in the 500s that influenced many modern legal systems
  • noun
  • /dʒʌsˈtɪniən koʊd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : código de Justiniano
  • Law students studied the Justinian code to understand the roots of modern civil law.

Examples

  • The influence of the Justinian code can still be seen in legal systems throughout Europe.

  • The compilation of the Justinian code marked a turning point in the history of jurisprudence.

  • The Justinian code is a significant legal document.

  • Many legal systems today are influenced by the Justinian code.

  • Law students studied the Justinian code to understand the roots of modern civil law.

  • The influence of the Justinian code can still be seen in legal systems throughout Europe.

  • The compilation of the Justinian code marked a turning point in the history of jurisprudence.

Synonyms

Roman law
vsJustinian code
  • Specialized
2 8.1

A system of rules used in ancient Rome that influenced many modern civil laws

is the specific codified civil law collection rather than the whole system
jus civile
vsJustinian code
  • Formal
9.9

A set of Roman laws about rights between people written down under Justinian

is the specific sixth century codified collection of that law

Surface Forms

Morphology

Justinian + code

Given knowledge of 'Justinian' as the Byzantine emperor/legal reformer and 'code' as a set of laws, a B1 learner can readily infer this refers to the body of laws associated with Justinian. The structure (proper name + code = laws enacted or compiled by that person) is compositional and mirrors comparable constructions in many languages, so the meaning is predictable from the constituents.

Etymology

The Justinian code is the name for the collection of Roman 'laws' that Emperor Justinian I ordered scholars to gather and write down in the 6th century. Because this organized set of rules became the base for many modern 'laws', the phrase now refers to that important collection of Roman law.