Brewer's: Dignus Vindice Nodus

(Latin). A knot or difficulty worthy of such hands to untie. Literally, a knotty point worthy to be made a civil action. The person who brought a civil action was called in Roman law a vindex, and the action was called a vindicatio. If the rightful possessor was a matter of dispute, the question became a lis vindiciarum, and was referred to the praetor to determine. A knotty point referred to the praetor was a “ dignus vindice nodus. ”

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