compos mentis

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English

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Etymology

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From Latin compos (in control, having mastery) + mentis (of mind).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈkɒmpɒs ˈmɛntɪs/

Adjective

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compos mentis (not comparable)

  1. (law) Of sound mind, sane; thus fully accountable (legally and/or morally) for one's deeds.
    • 1810, [anonymous] [], chapter XXVIII, in Splendid Follies. A Novel, []. Founded on Facts., volume III, London: [] J[ames] F[letcher] Hughes, [], →OCLC, pages 112–113:
      [] you have my hearty consent, sir, to marry the girl whensumdever it’s convenient.’ Dame Mayrose finished her speech with a low courtesy, and Tom Sponge sat like a petrified image. ‘For God’s sake, Mrs. Mayrose, are you compos mentis?’ said he. ‘Please your honour, I don’t understand no foreign languages,’ said the good woman, ‘but my darter tells me you want to make proposhalls.’

Antonyms

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Translations

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References

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  • The Chambers Dictionary, 9th Ed., 2003