Time for Latin Lovers
Time plays an important role in both criminal and civil law, including establishing filing deadlines, forming the basis for statutes of limitation and providing the period within which contractual duties must be performed. The Latin term ex tempore literally means “from or in consequence of time”, or “by passage of time.”
Ex tempore also forms the root basis for the word extemporaneous, which is a word commonly used today. Sometimes a person will address a group of people with a speech or series of remarks in an off the cuff manner and without advance preparation. Such comments are often called “extemporaneous” because they were assembled without the benefit of time for careful preparation.
(Time to sign-off – Happy New Year!)
– BBC&B