stipulation

Definition of stipulation

Etymology

From ancient Latin stipula ("a straw"). As was the custom then, the Romans used to break a straw, as a sign of agreement between the negotiating parties, and the stipulations were put in a written form.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌstɪp.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/, SAMPA: /%stIp.j@.leI.S@n/

Noun

stipulation (plural stipulations)

1. Something that is stated or stipulated as a condition of an agreement.
   
   The stipulations of the contract won't allow you to do that.
   If I lend you my car, my only stipulation is that you fill up the gas tank before returning it.

Further reading

In the law of the United States, a stipulation is an agreement made between opposing parties prior to a pending hearing or trial. For example, both parties might stipulate to certain facts, and therefore not have to argue those facts in court. After the stipulation is entered into, it is presented to the judge. In other legal systems a similar concept is called different names.

The term can also refer to a special rule in a professional wrestling match, which can force the loser to do something (e.g., retire), or any other edit to the basic rules of the match type.

Etymology

The word is derived from the ancient Latin word stipula meaning straw. As per the then Roman custom, the negotiating parties, upon reaching an agreement, broke a straw as a sign of their mutual agreement and wrote down the agreement rules (stipulations).[1]

References

1. Caesar and Christ, Will Durant, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1944