Pandects (/ˈpændɛkts/) is a term used to describe a comprehensive code or collection of laws. The word's spelling may seem odd, but it is actually derived from the ancient Greek term pandektes, which means "all-containing." The initial letter "p" is pronounced with a puff of air, and the stress is on the second syllable. The "cts" ending is pronounced as "kts." Though not a commonly used word, pandects is still referenced in legal research and scholarship.
Pandects is a term derived from the Greek word "pandektēs," which means "universal" or "all-encompassing." In its most common usage, pandects refers to a comprehensive and systematic compilation or collection of laws or legal principles, typically forming part of a legal code or digest. It can also be referenced as a treatise or a digest of laws in a particular jurisdiction.
Originally, the term was popularized in Roman law, where it denoted the collection of laws and legal principles known as the Digest or Pandects of Justinian. This vast compilation, commissioned by the Byzantine Roman Emperor Justinian in the 6th century CE, compiled the legal knowledge and jurisprudential wisdom of Roman jurists. It encompassed a wide range of legal topics and was divided into 50 books.
Today, the term pandects can also be used more generally to describe any comprehensive and authoritative compilation or treatise, not restrictively in the domain of law. It may extend its meaning to include any collection of essential or significant information in a particular field, serving as a reference or guide. For example, in the field of literature or philosophy, pandects may refer to an extensive anthology of significant works or authors within a specific genre or era.
Overall, pandects are seen as valuable resources that provide a comprehensive overview of a specific subject, offering an extensive compilation of essential knowledge, principles, or laws pertaining to that domain.
The title of the collection or digest of Roman laws made by order of the Emperor Justinian.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "pandects" originates from the Latin term "pandecta", which is derived from the Greek word "pándektēs" (πάνδεκτης). The Greek term was used to refer to an all-inclusive collection or compilation of knowledge, particularly in reference to the Roman law. The Roman jurist and scholar, Justinian I, commissioned the compilation of these laws into a single comprehensive work known as the "Digesta" or "Digest", which became the ultimate compilation of all Roman juridical knowledge. The Greek word "pándektēs" was subsequently translated into Latin as "pandecta", and eventually evolved into the English term "pandects".