Word
modus
/ˈmoʊdəs/
Definition
n. a way of doing something, especially a specific method or style. In legal contexts, it often refers to a specific type of legal action or a formal way of doing business.
n. a manner, way, or method of doing something. In a legal context, it refers to a specific form or type of legal proceeding or a formal mode of operation.
Examples
“The lawyer explained the modus of the trial.”
“The judge asked the defendant to clarify the modus of the transaction to determine if it was legal.”
“The legal team argued that the modus of the contract was so clear that any ambiguity in the final clause should be disregarded in favor of the established intent.”
Examples
simple
“The lawyer explained the modus of the trial.”
contextual
“The judge asked the defendant to clarify the modus of the transaction to determine if it was legal.”
complex
“The legal team argued that the modus of the contract was so clear that any ambiguity in the final clause should be disregarded in favor of the established intent.”
Real-World Examples
“Their modus operandi has been to rule by guns, not coalition.” “And, finally, a distinctly disobliging caption that is nevertheless pivotal to the wilfully befuddling modus operandi of this six-part series: “NO HELP”.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin modus (“measure, manner, mood”). Doublet of mode.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/modus