Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not final or absolute: Used primarily in legal contexts to describe a court order, judgment, or decree that will become final and absolute only after a specified period of time or unless a specific condition is met (e.g., an objection is raised).

Usage

• The word "nisi" is almost exclusively used in formal legal English. It modifies nouns like "decree," "order," or "judgment" to indicate their provisional nature.
• It is typically part of the fixed legal phrase "decree nisi."

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The court granted a decree nisi, which will be made absolute in six weeks unless cause is shown.
  • A judgment nisi was entered, giving the defendant 30 days to appeal.

Advanced Usage

• "Rule nisi": A court order that will become absolute unless the party against whom it was issued shows cause why it should not. It commands a party to appear and argue why the order should not take full effect.
  • The judge issued a rule nisi requiring the company to show cause why the injunction should not be granted.

Variants and Related Words

• Decree absolute: The final and conclusive court decree, often contrasted with a "decree nisi."
  • After the waiting period passed with no objections, the decree nisi was made absolute.

Synonyms

• Provisional: Arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later.
• Interim: Intended to last for only a short time until something more permanent is established.
• Conditional: Subject to one or more conditions or requirements being met.

Related Phrases

• "Unless" (as implied in the etymology): The word "nisi" comes from Latin, meaning "unless." This sense is embedded in its legal usage: a decree is final a condition is fulfilled.

Adjective

1. not final or absolute
   • the decree is nisi and not absolute