A WORD A DAY.

Southland Times, Issue 21195, 23 September 1930, Page 8

A WORD A DAY.

QUORUM. A “quorum,” as we use the word to-day, is such a number of members of any, deliberative or corporate body as is necessary for the legal transaction of business. The by-laws of most organizations contain a section specifying the minimum number of members which shall constitute a quorum. The word is taken directly from the Latin quorum, “of whom,” genitive plural of qui, “who,” and our use of the word goes back to the English practice of commissioning certain justices of the peace as “justices of the quorum.” These designated men were experts in their . particular lines, and their presence was necessary, otherwise the others could not act. In forming a judicial committee —let us say, involving A, B, C, D. E —the following phrase was used, “Quorum esse volumes, A. B duos,” which means “of whom we wish A and B to be two.” Quo-rum is accentuated on the first syllable and is pronounced as though spelled kwo-rum, o as in old, u as in circus. “There being a quorum present, let us proceed with the meeting.”