Another step in the Definitio project: the meeting on 30 March

On 30 March, we met to take a decisive step forward in the Definitio project. It was an intense afternoon in which we reaffirmed something that excites us: words matter, and defining them well is the first step towards understanding.

The mission of the session

Our goal was clear: to advance the process of extracting definitions from Roman jurists. To do this, we worked on three fronts:

• Validating the methodology of extraction.

• Coordinating the distribution of the books we are going to work on.

• Resolving doubts and collecting suggestions about the extraction guide.

The session was not a simple technical review: rather, it was a collective exercise in reflection on how to approach these ancient texts which, with their precision and ambiguity, continue to speak to our present.

The guide: a compass in a sea of texts

We presented and discussed the new Guide to Extracting Definitions, designed as a common working tool. It contains clear criteria:

• Identify each fragment with author, book, number and title.

• Copy the definition (or definitions) detected.

• Add comments when the definition is doubtful or debatable.

• Incorporate new columns to enrich the interpretation: references to Palingenesia, to the Perpetual Edict, typology of the definition (according to Cicero, Martini, Albanese), and even the ways of defining.

The slogan was unanimous: opt for a broad collection. ‘In dubio, pro definitione’. Better to note too much than to leave out a valuable nuance.

Stories within words

One of the most lively moments came when we discussed the so-called ‘hidden definitions’. These are phrases that do not seem to be definitions in the strict sense, but which, with a precise verb or an unexpected clarification, establish the meaning of a concept. It was like discovering hidden treasures in corners of the text that, at first glance, might go unnoticed ✨.

Debate and agreements

The debate was rich: from the assignment of books to how to classify doubtful cases. In the end, we agreed on three essential things:

1. Maintain breadth in the collection, trusting that filtering will come later.

2. Share practical examples that guide everyone in the same direction.

3. Create a space for continuous training, with seminars every fortnight to delve deeper, debate and connect with rhetorical sources (such as Cicero's Topics).

Looking ahead

We closed the meeting with gratitude and enthusiasm. The project is growing and enriching itself, and each definition extracted is another piece in the mosaic of a greater reflection: that of Roman jurists on language and its power.