Scienter

Pronunciation: /saɪˈɛntər/

Definitions of scienter

noun The legal concept of knowledge or intent to commit a wrongful act, especially in relation to fraud or deceit.

Example Sentences

A1 Scienter is a legal term that refers to knowledge or intent.

A2 In criminal law, proving scienter is essential for establishing guilt.

B1 The prosecutor must demonstrate the defendant's scienter in order to secure a conviction.

B2 Scienter can be difficult to prove in cases where intent is not clearly stated.

C1 Legal experts often debate the nuances of scienter in complex cases.

C2 A thorough understanding of scienter is crucial for successful prosecution in white-collar crime cases.

Examples of scienter in a Sentence

formal The plaintiff must prove that the defendant acted with scienter in order to establish securities fraud.

informal It's not enough to just make a mistake, they have to show that there was scienter involved.

slang You can't just accidentally commit fraud, you need some scienter to prove intent.

figurative His eyes betrayed a hint of scienter as he tried to cover up his involvement in the scheme.

Grammatical Forms of scienter

• past tense: scientered
• plural: scienters
• comparative: more scienter
• superlative: most scienter
• present tense: scienters
• future tense: will scienter
• perfect tense: have scientered
• continuous tense: is scientering
• singular: scienter
• positive degree: scienter
• infinitive: to scienter
• gerund: scientering
• participle: scientered

Origin and Evolution of scienter

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'scienter' originated from Latin, derived from the word 'sciens' meaning 'knowing'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in legal contexts to refer to knowledge or intent, the term 'scienter' has evolved to also encompass a broader sense of understanding or awareness in various fields of study.