GAVEL BURNS
If the paroxysms of light-blocking and beam-insertion have caused intolerable domestic strain, but not enough to merit a full divorce, you may seek separation a mensa et thoro. Mensa is a table, thorus a bed. Both here are in the ablative form, following the preposition a.
This is the fundamental sense of the ablative, indicating a separation of some kind. A separation or divorce a mensa et thoro is a legal separation where the parties remain officially married, but live apart. Until 1989 the only means of separation a couple could seek in court was a divorce a mensa et thoro.
If it hasn’t come to that, there is nothing better your partner would like than some commentary on the latest episode of your favourite legal drama. We’ll finish with a round-up of some terms you will definitely hear. Be prepared to instruct and amaze.