Cadit quaestio
“The question falls.”
Legal phrase
What does “Cadit quaestio” mean?
Cadit quaestio translates as “The question falls.”
It means that a matter is settled and there is nothing left to argue about. Lawyers use it when a decisive fact or ruling makes further debate pointless.
“Cadit quaestio” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Cadit | falls, drops | third person singular present active indicative of cado, “I fall”; the subject is quaestio |
| quaestio | the question | nominative singular feminine of quaestio, “question, inquiry”; the subject of the verb |
How to pronounce “Cadit quaestio”
The only difference is the diphthong ae: “eye” in Classical (KWYE-stee-oh), “eh” in Church Latin. Stress falls on the first syllable of cadit and on the second-to-last syllable of quaestio, the long-vowelled stee in Classical rhythm.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “the question falls”, in other words the issue drops away because nothing remains to be decided. The verb cado (“I fall”) is used here in a figurative sense, as when an argument or a claim collapses.
The phrase comes from the language of legal and scholastic debate, where disputed points were called quaestiones and were argued step by step. When a decisive fact, document or ruling appeared, the point was said to fall and the discussion could end.
It is still found in legal writing and in learned discussion, usually as a short way of saying that a matter is settled. I could not trace it to a single named author or text, so it is best treated as a traditional phrase rather than a quotation from one source.
How to use “Cadit quaestio”
Suited to a closing line in a debate summary, a legal or academic note, or a short comment when one fact ends an argument. It also works as a dry, witty caption for a moment when a dispute is suddenly resolved.
- Latin
- Cadit quaestio
- English
- The question falls.
- Source
- Legal phrase
- Era
- Legal Latin
- Theme
- Truth
Common mistakes
- It does not mean “the question is asked” or “the question is answered”. It says the issue falls away, usually because it has been settled or has become irrelevant.
- Quaestio is feminine singular. A plural version would be cadunt quaestiones, “the questions fall”.
- It is sometimes quoted as if it were a line from a famous Roman author. It is a traditional legal and scholastic phrase with no single known author.
Questions about “Cadit quaestio”
What does “Cadit quaestio” mean literally?
“The question falls.” The sense is that the issue drops away because nothing is left to decide.
Who said “Cadit quaestio”?
No single author is known. It is a traditional phrase from legal and scholastic Latin rather than a line from one famous work.
How do you pronounce “Cadit quaestio”?
Classically it is KAH-dit KWYE-stee-oh. In Church Latin the ae sounds like “eh”, giving KAH-dit KWEH-stee-oh.
When is “Cadit quaestio” used?
Mainly in legal and academic writing, to say that a point is settled and needs no more argument, often because a decisive fact or ruling has appeared.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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