Etymology

mens rea

Today it means: A reactive mind, a conscious knowing by the individual that an act was committed, either by oneself or by another. Full definition →

Latin mēns
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The story

  1. Latin · derived frommēns
  2. English todaymens rea

From Latin mēns + reus (literally “guilty mind”), from the English common law precept Actus non facit reum nisi mens rea sit ("The act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty").

Words from the same roots

Latinmēns all →

menticide

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.