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Simple English definitions for legal terms
gentile
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A quick definition of gentile:
A gentile is a person who belongs to a group of families that share the same name and are believed to have a common ancestor. This group is called a gens and its members have full civic rights. In ancient Rome, being a gentile was important in early law, but its significance decreased over time.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: A gentile is a member of a gens, which is a clan or group of families who share the same name and supposedly a common ancestor. Members of a gens are freeborn and possess full civic rights according to Roman law.
Example: In ancient Rome, the Julii were a gens that claimed descent from the mythological Trojan prince Aeneas. All members of the Julii clan were considered gentiles and had certain rights and privileges.
Explanation: The example illustrates how a gens is a group of families who share a common ancestor and name. The Julii were a specific gens, and all members of this clan were considered gentiles. This meant that they had certain rights and privileges according to Roman law, such as being freeborn and possessing full civic rights.