Legal Definitions - comparatio literarum

Definition: Comparatio literarum is a Latin term that means "comparison of writings." It refers to the act of comparing different writings to determine their authorship. In some cases, handwriting experts (known as comparatores) were called upon to testify about the authenticity of a document.

Example: In modern times, comparatio literarum is often used in forensic investigations. For example, if a ransom note is found at a crime scene, handwriting experts may compare it to known samples of handwriting from potential suspects to determine who wrote the note.

Explanation: This example illustrates how comparatio literarum can be used to determine authorship. By comparing the handwriting in the ransom note to known samples of handwriting, experts can identify the person who wrote the note. This technique can also be used to authenticate historical documents or to determine if a particular work was written by a specific author.