Second Treatise of Government

Second Treatise of Government Glossary

approbation

approval; commendation; praise

arbitrary

not restrained or limited in the exercise of power; based on or determined by individual preference or convenience rather than by necessity or the intrinsic nature of something

bona fide

made in good faith without fraud or deceit; sincere

caeteris paribus

a Latin phrase, literally translated as "with other things the same," or "all other things being equal or held constant"

collusion

secret agreement or cooperation especially for an illegal or deceitful purpose

concupiscence

strong desire; especially : sexual desire

conjugal

of or relating to the married state or to married persons and their relations

declination

a turning aside or swerving

edict

a proclamation having the force of law; order; command

encroachment

to enter by gradual steps or by stealth into the possessions or rights of another

endeavor

to attempt (as the fulfillment of an obligation) by exertion of effort

enmity

positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will

espouse

to take up and support as a cause; become attached to

exigencies

those which are required in a particular situation; things which require immediate aid or action

exorbitance

excessive or gross deviation from rule, right, or propriety

extemporary

composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment; impromptu

fiduciary

held or founded in trust or confidence

heady

willful; rash; impetuous

imperious

befitting or characteristic of one of eminent rank or attainments; commanding; dominant; marked by arrogant assurance

insolence

a state of being insultingly contemptuous in speech or conduct

jurisdiction

the authority of a sovereign power to govern or legislate; the power or right to exercise authority

maladministration

incorrect administration (as of a drug or a law)

noxious

disagreeable; obnoxious; physically harmful or destructive to living beings

penury

a cramping and oppressive lack of resources

posterity

the offspring of one progenitor to the furthest generations

promiscuous

indiscriminate

promulgated

to make (as a doctrine) known by open declaration

rapine

pillage; plunder

redress

relief from distress; compensation for wrong or loss; reparation

salus populi suprema lex

Latin for "Let the good of the people be the supreme law" or "The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law"; from Cicero’s De Legibus

straitening

restricting in freedom or scope

superintend

to have or exercise the charge and oversight of; direct

tacit

implied or indicated (as by an act or by silence) but not actually expressed

vacuis locis

a Latin phrase, meaning “in empty places”

wantonness

a state of being hard to control; undisciplined; unruly

wresting

gaining with difficulty by or as if by force, violence, or determined labor

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