Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A reactive mind, a conscious knowing by the individual that an act was committed, either by themselves or by another.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: general
Topics: human-sciences, psychology, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A guilty mind, the conscious knowing of a perpetrator while committing an act that the act is illicit.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
(law) criminal intent; the thoughts and intentions behind a wrongful act (including knowledge that the act is illegal); often at issue in murder trials
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: malice aforethought
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: planning, preparation, provision
Narrower terms: premeditation
History
From Latin mēns + reus (literally “guilty mind”), from the English common law precept Actus non facit reum nisi mens rea sit ("The act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty").
Across languages
10 source translations are retained for this English entry.
