I.skilled in business, esp. experienced in matters of law: “pragmatici homines omnibus historiis cavere jubent et vetant credere,” Cic. Att. 2, 20, 1.—Hence,
I. Subst.
A. pragmătĭcus , i, m., = πραγματικός, one skilled in the law, who furnished orators and advocates with the principles on which they based their speeches: “itaque illi disertissimi homines (Graeci) ministros habent in causis juris peritos, cum ipsi sint imperitissimi, et qui pragmatici vocantur,” Cic. de Or. 1, 59, 253 (dub.; “bracketed by B. and K.): oratori pragmaticum adjutorem dare,” id. ib. 1, 59, 253 (1, 45, 198, written as Greek); Quint. 12, 3, 4; Juv. 7, 123; Dig. 48, 17, 9.—
B. Pragmătĭca , ōrum, n., the title of a work by Attius, Gell. 20, 3; “perh. the same which is called by Pliny Praxidica and Praxidicum,” Plin. 1, ind. lib. 18; 18, 24, 55, § 200.—
II. Adj., relating to civil affairs. So in late jurid. Lat.: “pragmatica sanctio, or jussio, or annotatio, or constitutio,” an imperial decree that referred to the affairs of a community, a pragmatic sanction, Cod. Just. 1, 2, 10; called pragmaticum rescriptum, Aug. Collat. cum Donatist. 3, c. 2; and absol.: pragmătĭcum , i, n., Cod. Th. 6, 23, 3; 16, 5, 52.
