Ætas

Lat.

In the civll law. Age.
—Ætas infantiae proxima. The age next to infancy; the first half of the period of childhood, (pueritia,) extending from seven years to ten and a half. Inst 3, 20, 9; 4 Bl. Comm. 22.
—Ætas legitima. Lawful age; the age of twenty-five. Dig. 3, 5, 27, pr.; id. 26, 2, 32, 2 ; Id. 27, 7, 1, pr.
—Ætas perfecta. Complete age ; full age; the age of twenty-five. Dig. 4, 4, 32; Id. 22, 3, 25, 1.
—Ætas prima. The first age; infancy, (infantia.) Co.d. 6, 61, 8, 3.
—Ætas pubertati proxima. The age next to puberty ; the last half of the period of childhood, (puentia,) extending from ten years and a half to fourteen. Inst. 3, 20, 9; 4 Bl. Comm. 22.

This word is sometimes employed, in a wide sense, as equivalent to sui juris. A person sui juris is called paterfamilias, even when under the age of puberty. In the narrower and more common use, a paterfamilias is any one invested with potestas over any person. It is thus as applicable to a grandfather as to a father. Hunter Eom. Law, 49. Pater patriae. Father of the country. See Parens Patri^e.

a phrase used to designate that a man has the power to alter his will or testament as long as he lives.