actas pubertati proxima

(Civil law.) The age next to, or approaching, puberty. This was that part of the period of puerita, or childhood, from the age of ten and a half years to fourteen. During this period a child was punishable for crime if found to be doli capax, that is, capable of mischief, but the punishment was with many mitigations and was not imposed with the utmost rigor. After this period minors were liable to punishment, even capitally. See 4 Bl Comm 22.