DictionaryRoot: ius
Latin
ius
right or law
Forms
- ius
- iur- — The longer form used before Latin endings.
- jur- — Later spelling used j for the consonant sound of i.
Origin
An ancient Latin word for what is right or legally recognized; its deepest origin is uncertain.
Note
The change from s to r belongs to Latin's sound history, not a change in the idea of law.
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noun
jurisdiction
joor-is-DIK-shun/ˌdʒʊrɪsˈdɪkʃn/
The recognized scope of a governing authority's legal power.
Etymology
Literally a “saying of the law,” the word first referred to administering justice. It then came to mean the authority to do so and the territory or matters over which that authority extends.