Latin
In Latin the word res (thing) is used. Some Latin legal writers used the name Numerius Negidius as a John Doe placeholder name; this name was chosen in part because it shares its initials with the Latin phrases (often abbreviated in manuscripts to NN) nomen nescio, "I don't know the name"; nomen nominandum, "name to be named" (used when the name of an appointee was as yet unknown); and non nominatus/nominata, "not named".
Formal writing in (especially older) Dutch uses almost as much Latin as the lawyer's English, and, for instance, "N.N." was and is commonly used as a "John Doe" placeholder in class schedules, grant proposals, etc.
Emperor Justinian's codification of Roman law follows the custom of using "Titius" and "Seius" as names for Roman citizens, and "Stichus" and "Pamphilus" as names for slaves.
Read more about this topic: Erika Mustermann
Famous quotes containing the word latin:
“[B]y going to the College [William and Mary] I shall get a more universal Acquaintance, which may hereafter be serviceable to me; and I suppose I can pursue my Studies in the Greek and Latin as well there as here, and likewise learn something of the Mathematics.”
—Thomas Jefferson (17431826)
“Where liberty dwells there is my country.”
—Anonymous. Latin phrase.
Adopted as a motto by U.S. patriot and orator James Otis (1725-1783)
“OUR Latin books in motly row,
Invite us to our task
Gay Horace, stately Cicero:
Yet theres one verb, when once we know,
No higher skill we ask:
This ranks all other lore above
Weve learned Amare means to love!”
—Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (18321898)