jus gentium
- noun
- /dʒʌs ˈdʒɛnʧəm/
- Formal
- Many international disputes are resolved according to jus gentium rather than domestic law.
Examples
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The concept of jus gentium is crucial in international relations.
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Scholars often study jus gentium to understand the evolution of global legal systems.
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The principles of jus gentium have shaped the foundation of modern treaties.
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Many treaties are based on jus gentium principles.
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The concept of jus gentium has evolved from its origins in Roman law to shape modern international legal standards.
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Legal scholars often debate the principles of jus gentium in relation to human rights.
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The treaties were drafted based on the principles of jus gentium, reflecting the common values of the nations involved.
Synonyms
Rules that countries follow when they deal with each other
Rules that tell how countries must act with each other
Surface Forms
Morphology
jus + gentium
Jus gentium is a Latin legal formula whose constituents are not ordinary English words; a B1 learner who only knows 'jus' as a Latin legal borrowing (or does not know 'gentium' at all) will not be able to derive the full meaning. Understanding 'law of nations' requires knowledge of Latin morphology or legal register rather than straightforward English composition, so it is not transparently interpretable by typical learners.
Etymology
Jus gentium comes from Latin used by Roman lawyers: jus means 'law' and gentium means 'of the peoples'. It named rules Romans used when they dealt with other peoples, so today jus gentium means 'international law'.