lex talionis
[ leks tal-ee-oh-nis ]
/ ˈlɛks ˌtæl iˈoʊ nɪs /
noun
the principle or law of retaliation that a punishment inflicted should correspond in degree and kind to the offense of the wrongdoer, as an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; retributive justice.
Also called
talion.
Origin of lex talionis
First recorded in 1590–1600,
lex talionis is from the Latin word
lēx taliōnis law of talion
Words nearby lex talionis
lewy bodies,
lex,
lex loci,
lex non scripta,
lex scripta,
lex talionis,
lex.,
lexan,
lexell,
lexeme,
lexical
British Dictionary definitions for lex talionis
lex talionis
/ (ˌtælɪˈəʊnɪs) /
noun
the law of revenge or retaliation
Word Origin for lex talionis
C16: New Latin