Definition of obiter in English:
obiter
adverb & adjective ˈɒbɪtə
(chiefly in legal contexts) made or said in passing.
Example sentencesExamples
- Endowed as he was with superb powers of criticism, an impressively hard-headed acumen, he strewed his letters with witty, biting obiter scripts.
- These points are, of course, strictly obiter, since these conspiracies would in any case have been protected by State immunity, since they did not constitute international crimes against humanity.
- The only other issue, my Lord, is that I appreciate that since this is obiter it is unlikely on its own to attract your Lordship to the question of assessment of damages.
- However, this view is obiter and tentatively expressed.
- The less courageous would merely apply the standard the Court of Appeal said should be applied - obiter or not.
- The issue was the subject of obiter observations in two later cases.
noun ˈɒbɪtə
short for obiter dictum
Example sentencesExamples
- The ratio was correct and even the obiter, I would say, was absolutely correct.
- We cannot do anything else, except apply the obiter of the two places where anything is said about public works.
- The best example really is the last of his obiter.
- In other words, the reasons relate to the reasons for its disposition, not to the obiter.
- In 50 years time barristers will be putting in submissions in this Court that refer to our decision as the S134 obiter.
Origin
Latin, originally as the phrase ob itur 'by the way'.