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corpus delicti

(də lik′tī′, -tē′)

the facts constituting or proving a crime; material substance or foundation of a crime: the corpus delicti in a murder case is not just the body of the victim, but the fact that the victim has been murdered
loosely the body of the victim in a murder case

Origin: ModL, lit., body of the crime

See corpus delicti in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Law The material evidence in a homicide, such as the discovered corpse of a murder victim, showing that a crime has been committed.
A corpse.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin corpus dēlictī

Origin: : Latin corpus, body

Origin: + Latin dēlictī

Origin: , genitive of dēlictum, crime

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