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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

Cui Bono

American English · Video pronunciation

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:31
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What does Cui Bono mean?

noun

  1. The principle that the ultimate initiator of an action is likely the person who stands to gain from the action.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

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In the pages of books

See this word in context.

As long as I am on anatomy I never feel myself in that disgusting, horrid, cui bono, inquiring, humour.
Charles DarwinLife and Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 1Project Gutenberg ebook #2087
Cicero maketh honorable mention of one of the Cassii, a severe Judge amongst the Romans, for a custome he had, in Criminal causes, (when the testimony of the witnesses was not sufficient,) to ask the Accusers, Cui Bono; that is to say, what Profit, Honor, or other Contentment, the accused obtained, or expected by the Fact.
Thomas HobbesLeviathanProject Gutenberg ebook #3207