motu proprio

/ˌməʊtuː ˈpɹɒpɹɪəʊ//ˌməʊtuː ˈpɹəʊpɹɪəʊ/

adverb

Of one’s own free will, of one’s own volition.

OriginMedieval Latin motu proprio ← Latin motus →
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Meanings

adverbmotu proprio (not comparable)
  1. not comparableOf one’s own free will, of one’s own volition.
nounmotu proprio (plural motu proprios)

plural motu proprios

  1. A document issued by the Pope on his own initiative directed to the Roman Catholic Church.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
ex officiosua sponte

Origin

  1. Latinmotus“motion”
  2. Medieval Latinmotu proprio
  3. Englishmotu proprio

From Medieval Latin motu proprio, from ablative form of classical Latin motus (“motion”) + proprius (“one’s own”).

More words from Medieval Latin, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Spanish motu proprio, motu propio
  • motu proprioTranslations
  • motu propioTranslations
  • de motu propioTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

motu proprio. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/motu%20proprio

MLA

“motu proprio.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/motu%20proprio. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “motu proprio,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/motu%20proprio.

Source: motu proprio on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.