Legal Dictionary

nota bene

Legal Definition of nota bene

Etymology

    Latin Origin

Latin Phrase

  1. Note well
  2. Take notice (abbr. N.B.)

Definition of nota bene

Etymology

    From Classical Latin notā bene (“note well”).

Pronunciation

  • (Latin) IPA: /ˌnotaː ˈbene/
  • (RP) IPA: /ˌnəʊtə ˈbɛneɪ/[1], /ˌnəʊtə ˈbɛni/
  • (US) IPA: /ˌnoʊdə ˈbɛneɪ/[1], /ˌnoʊdə ˈbɛni/

Interjection

nota bene (plural notate bene)

  1. (imperative) Take special note; used to add an aside or warning to a text.

Usage notes

  • As with the Latin phrases id est and exempli gratia, nota bene is now more commonly encountered in its abbreviated form n.b.
  • In Latin, notā is the singular present active imperative form of notō (“I mark”, “I note”, “I observe”), whose plural equivalent is notāte; consequently, in English, when this interjectional phrase is used whilst addressing an audience of more than one person, the plural form notate bene is occasionally used. Whilst obligatory in the grammar of Latin, this practice is correct, though not strictly necessary, in English; nota bene is regarded as correct usage irrespective of number by all bar the most pedantic of language users, whereas substitution with the abbreviation n.b. - by dint of its obscuring the inflexion - would satisfy even them.

Derived terms

  • n.b. (abbreviation)
  • N.B. (abbreviation)

Synonyms

  • nota

Noun

nota bene

  1. (rare, informal) An instance of the phrase nota bene or its variant spellings.
  2. By extension (both senses also rare and informal):
    1. Any indication similar in nature to nota bene.
    2. Something deserving of close attention or of careful notice.

Further reading

Nota bene is an Italian and Latin phrase meaning "note well". The phrase first appeared in writing circa 1721.

Often abbreviated as "N.B.", nota bene comes from the Latin roots notāre ("to note") and bene ("well"). It is in the singular imperative mood, instructing one individual to note well the matter at hand. In present-day English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the attention of the reader to a certain (side) aspect or detail of the subject on hand, translating it as "pay attention" or "take notice". While "N.B." is often used in academic writing, "note" is a common substitute.

References:

  1. Wiktionary. Published under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.



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