subsequi

Subsequi is a Latin verb meaning to follow or to come after. The term is formed from sub- (“after”) and sequi (“to follow”). In legal Latin, subsequi is used to denote a consequence or result that follows from a prior act or fact.

In legal and civil-law contexts, subsequi often appears in phrases such as causa subsequens to indicate a subsequent cause or follow-on effect. The concept distinguishes effects that naturally follow from a preceding act from independent or intervening events. For example, damages or obligations described as subsequentes are those that arise as a consequence of an initial breach or action, rather than from a separate, unrelated event. The exact formulation and emphasis can vary by jurisdiction and historical period, particularly in Roman-law and continental legal traditions where Latin terminology remains influential.

In modern English-language legal writing, the isolated term subsequi is infrequently used. When Latin terminology is retained, it is more common to encounter the broader idea expressed in English as “subsequent,” “following,” or discussions of “the chain of causation” or “the causa subsequens.” Nevertheless, subsequi continues to appear in historical or doctrinal discussions of Roman law and civil-law sources, where it helps describe how certain legal effects are tied to preceding actions.

See also: causa subsequens, chain of causation, subsequent.

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