sua sponte

[ soo-uh spon-tee, -tey ]

adverb

, Law.

1. (used by a judge or court to indicate that a motion is coming from the court itself and was not introduced or prompted by either party to the judicial matter.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of sua sponte¹

First recorded in 1805–15; from Latin: “by one's free will”; suicide ( def ), spontaneous ( def )

Example Sentences

Orare ne colleg auxilium, quod acciendum ultro fuerit, sua sponte oblatum sperneretur; and Tac.

From Project Gutenberg