noscitur-a-sociis
Noun
- (law) A rule of language used by the courts to help interpret legislation, under which the questionable meaning of a doubtful word can be derived from its association with other words.
- Foster v Diphwys Casson (1887) 18 QBD 428, involved a statute which stated that explosives taken into a mine must be in a "case or canister". Here the defendant used a cloth bag. The courts had to consider whether a cloth bag was within the definition. Under noscitur a sociis, it was held that the bag could not have been within the statutory definition, because parliament's intention was referring to a case or container of the same strength as a canister.
Origin
Latin "It is known from its associates."
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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"noscitur-a-sociis." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 23 June 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/noscitur-a-sociis>.
APA Style
noscitur-a-sociis. (n.d.). Retrieved June 23rd, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/noscitur-a-sociis
noscitur a sociis - Legal Definition
Latin
A rule of interpretation that states that the meaning of unclear language in a
contract or other legal document should be construed in light of the language
surrounding it.
Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"noscitur-a-sociis." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 23 June 2018. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/noscitur-a-sociis>.
APA Style
noscitur-a-sociis. (n.d.). Retrieved June 23rd, 2018, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/noscitur-a-sociis
