ACTOR

signified generally a plaintiff. In a civil or private action, the plaintiff was often called petit or ; in a public action ( causa public a ), he was called acc us at or . The defendant was called reus , both in private and public causes: this term, however, according to Cicero, might signify either party, as indeed we might conclude from the word itself. In a private action the defendant was often called adversarius , but either party might be called adversarius with respect to the other. Wards brought their actions by their guardian or tutor. Peregrin i , or aliens, originally brought their action through their patron us; but afterwards in their own name, by a fiction of law, that they were Roman citizens. A Roman citizen might also generally bring his action by means of a cognitor or procurator. [ Actio . ] Actor has also the sense of an agent or manager of another’s busine generally. The actor public us was an officer who had the superintendence or care of slaves and property belonging to the state.