DE DEBITORE IN PARTES SECANDO

de debitore in partes secando (dee deb-i-tor-ee in pahr-teez si-kan-doh). [Latin “of cutting a

debtor in pieces”] Roman law. The title of a law in the Twelve Tables, meaning either literally to

cut a debtor into pieces or merely to divide the debtor’s estate. See TWELVE TABLES.

“DE  DEBITORE  IN  PARTES  SECANDO….  [S]ome  writers  contending  for  the  literal

signification, while others have supposed it to be only a figurative expression …. The latter view

has been adopted by Montesquieu, Bynkershoek, Heineccius and Taylor …. The literal meaning,

on  the  other  hand,  is  advocated  by  Aulus  Gellius  and  other  writers  of  antiquity,  and  receives

support from an expression (semoto  omni cruciatu) in the Roman Code itself …. This is also the

opinion of Gibbon, Gravina, Pothier, Hugo and Niebuhr.” 1 Alexander Burrill, A Law Dictionary

and Glossary 432 (2d ed. 1867). [Blacks Law 8th]