se defendendo

American  

[see dee-fen-den-doh] / si ˌdi fɛnˈdɛn doʊ /

adverb

Law.

1. in self-defense.

   homicide committed se defendendo.

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Etymology

Origin of se defendendo

First recorded in 1540–50, se defendendo is from Latin sē dēfendendō

Example Sentences

If the former British Ministry had stood, we might have secured it from England, and, in that case, France would have been obliged to admit us to their islands, se defendendo.

From The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume 7. by Various

When I wrote to you last year on reptiles, I wish I had not forgot to mention the faculty that snakes have of stinking se defendendo.

From The Natural History of Selborne by White, Gilbert

This, therefore, excluded it in trespass, petty larceny, or killing se defendendo.

From Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 1 by Randolph, Thomas Jefferson