non compos mentis
2
9.9
- adjective
- /nɒn ˈkɒmpəs ˈmɛntɪs/
- Formal
:
no compos mentis
- As former Senator Birch Bayh, a key author of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, has said, when a president is "going to be non compos mentis, somebody else should be running the shop."
- declared non compos mentis
Examples
-
Yet, he took another draught of his beer, convinced that it was better to die non compos mentis.
Fiction book (1996) -
He's virtually non compos mentis.
-
From the 'Non Compos Mentis' File
Blog text (8) -
Although someone like Mr. Lockerby will present as completely non compos mentis...
-
I am poleaxed and in a non compos mentis condition.
Fiction book (1991) -
Did you know that Dr. Fischer came to the conclusion that you were non compos mentis?
-
The judge ruled that the defendant was non compos mentis and could not stand trial.
-
In the meeting, she was deemed non compos mentis due to her inability to follow the discussion.
-
After a thorough examination, the psychiatrist declared him non compos mentis and unable to manage his affairs.
Synonyms
17
6.8
Not allowed by law to make important legal decisions or speak in court
1
9.0
Not able to think or decide clearly about important legal matters
Antonyms
How Sane
- Formal
9
6.5
- Formal
2
9.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
non + compos + mentis
This is a Latin legal/formal phrase whose constituent items are not English words a B1 learner would know, so the meaning cannot be derived from the listed parts. Although the roots echo English cognates (non/not, compos/compose, mentis/mind), the inflected Latin forms and the idiomatic legal usage make the phrase unpredictable for learners, so it is opaque.
Etymology
Non compos mentis is a Latin phrase once used by old lawyers: non means 'not', compos means 'in control', and mentis means 'mind'. So it gives the image of someone whose mind is not in control, and today it is used to say a person is 'not of sound mind' or 'not legally able to make decisions'.