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NeCede's

Maxim 1.5.200

Those things which are spoken to one end, ought not to be perverted to another.

Quae ad unum finem loquuta sunt, non debent ad alium detorqueri.

Source: 4 Co. 14; Jackson; Weisman, 104dd Difficulty 2/5 — Approachable

Explanation

Words in a statute or instrument must be applied to the purpose for which they were intended — twisting language to serve a purpose foreign to its original design is a perversion of the law. (Duplicate maxim — see also 10.2.33.)

Where this applies

  • Language in a statute is twisted to serve a purpose it was never intended for.
  • A party takes words from one context and applies them to a completely different situation.

Legal domains

contractproperty

See also

Cite this maxim

NeCede Max. 1.5.200 — Those things which are spoken to one end, ought not to be perverted to another. — 4 Co. 14; Jackson; Weisman, 104dd (Quae ad unum finem loquuta sunt, non debent ad alium detorqueri.)

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