Captation. (In French law), the act of one who succeeds in controlling the will of another, so as to become master of it; used in an invidious sense.

Captator. A person who obtains a gift or legacy through artifice.

CapiteMinutus. In the civil law; one who has suffered capitis diminution, one who has lost status or legal attributes. See below.

CAPITIS DIMINUTIO. In Roman law, a diminishing or abridgment of personality; a loss or curtailment of a man’s status or aggregate of legal attributes and qualifications.

CAPITIS DIMINUTIO MAXIMA. The highest or most comprehensive loss of status. This occurred when a man’s condition was changed from one of freedom to one of bondage; when he became a slave. It swept away with it all rights of citizenship and all family rights.

CAPITIS DIMINUTIO MEDIA. A lesser or medium loss of status. This occurred where a man lost his rights of citizenship, but without losing his liberty. It carried away also the family rights.

CAPITIS DIMINUTIO MINIMA. The lowest or least comprehensive degree of loss of status. This occurred where a man’s family relations alone were changed. It happened on the arrogation of a person who had been his own master,

(sui ju. ris).

Copied from Blacks Law Dictionary.