exceptio quod metus causa

phrase

The exceptio metus; an exception based on the fact that the underlying cause of action was based on duress or intimidation by the plaintiff of the defendant.

OriginLatin exceptio →
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Meanings

phraseexceptio quod metus causa?
  1. lawThe exceptio metus; an exception based on the fact that the underlying cause of action was based on duress or intimidation by the plaintiff of the defendant.

    It appears that in that Court, the defence stressed by appellant's counsel was the exceptio quod metus causa and it was to that defence that the learned Judge-President mainly directed himself.

    1974, SHEPSTONE v SHEPSTONE 1974 (2) SA 462 (N)
    1 more example

    Reverting to the defence raised by first defendant, it is clear that a contract may be vitiated by duress (metus), the raison d'etre of the rule apparently being that intimidation or improper pressure renders the consent of the party subjected to duress no true consent at all. ]

    [ 1974, AREND AND ANOTHER v ASTRA FURNISHERS (PTY) LTD 1974 (1) SA 298 (C)

Origin

  1. Latinexceptio“exception”
  2. Englishexceptio quod metus causa

From Latin exceptio (“exception”) quod (“based on”) metus (“duress”) causa (“a cause (of action)”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

exceptio quod metus causa. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/exceptio%20quod%20metus%20causa

MLA

“exceptio quod metus causa.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/exceptio%20quod%20metus%20causa. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “exceptio quod metus causa,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/exceptio%20quod%20metus%20causa.

Source: exceptio quod metus causa on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.