Lexica → Phrase → capitus diminutio minima
| Letter | C |
|---|---|
| Letter name | cee |
| Pronounciation | /siː/ |
| Phrase: | capitus diminutio minima |
|---|---|
| Pronounciation: | |
| Century: | 21st |
| DA Name: | capitus diminutio minima |
| Era: | C.E. |
| Origin: | Original |
| Type: | Official |
| Source Language: | Latin |
Source Language Words: | |
| Source Text: | |
Definition: | 19th Century Latin forgery deliberately introduced into early LAW DICTIONARIES to protect the use of UPPER CASE naming and discourage its wider practice. The phrase claims the meaning "The lowest, minimal loss of status through non-CAPITALIZATION" and attributes this to the alleged ancient pre-Vatican Roman Law of bicameral scripting (UPPER CASE and LOWER CASE) known as MAJUSCULE and MINUSCULE. However, pre-Vatican controlled Rome did not have a formal bicameral script system, only inscription capitals and everyday cursive in which no formal rules for capitalization applied. Under CASE LAW, UPPER CASE names carry special privileges and powers, hence lower case names carry little or no authority--the complete opposite to the meaning of the forgery. |
