Definition of mancipium
plural mancipia
\-ēə\
1
Roman law
a (1)
: the status of a freeman subject to the power and control of the head of a Roman family similar to that of a slave except that he could not be abused or killed without legal cause
(2)
: the power or control so exercised by such head of family over such freeman
b
: a form of quiritarian as opposed to bonitarian ownership of property common in early Roman law
c
: mancipation
2
: slave
