SI ANTECEDIT ICTUM LICET NON CONGRESSUM

si antecedit ictum licet non congressum (sI an-ti-see-dit ik-t[schwa]m lI-set non k[schwa]n-gres-[schwa]m). [Law Latin] Hist. If it precedes the blow, although not actually connected with it. • The phrase appeared in reference to the malice sufficient to warrant a capital murder conviction.