Scienter

Definition - Noun
[Latin, knowingly, from scient- sciens, present participle of scire to know]
1  : knowledge of the nature of one's act or omission or of the nature of something in one's possession that is often a necessary element of an offense <the ~ element constitutionally required for an obscenity statute ­Wall Dist. v. Newport News, 323 S.E.2d 75 (1984)>
also
: intent to engage in particular esp. criminal conduct <a few environmental statutes...do away altogether with the need to prove ~...requiring no proof of criminal intent whatsoever ­R. J. Kafin et al.>
2  : a mental state in fraud (as securities fraud) that is characterized by an intent to deceive, manipulate, or defraud
PronunciationsI-'en-t&r

Pronunciation Key

  • \&\ as a and u in a b ut
  • \[^&]\ as e in kitt en
  • \&r\ as ur and er in f urther
  • \a\ as a inash
  • \A\ as a in ace
  • \Š\ as o in m op
  • \au\ as ou in ou t
  • \ch\ as ch in ch in
  • \e\ as e in bet
  • \E\ as ea in easy
  • \g\ as g in go
  • \i\ as i in hit
    		•
  • \I\ as i in ice
  • \j\ as j in job
  • \[ng]\ as ng in sing
  • \O\ as o in go
  • \o\ as aw in law
  • \oi\ as oy in boy
  • \th\ as th in thin
  • \[th_]\ as thin the
  • \Ÿ\ as oo in loot
  • \u\ as oo in foot
  • \y\ as y in yet
  • \zh\ as si in vision
    		•


    Search Legal Dictionary


    Based on Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©2001.
    Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
    Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.
    http://www.m-w.com    		 Merriam-Webster

    collateral estoppel

    estoppel by judgment barring the relitigation of issues litigated by the same parties on a different cause of action


    Terms & Conditions   Privacy   Copyright © 2008 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.