in Roman antiquity, a public standing place within the city of Rome, where causes were judicially tried, and orations delivered to the people.

Forum, was also used for a place of traffic, answering to our market-place: of these there were vast numbers, as the forum piscarium, olitorium, &c. These were generally called fora venalia; in contradistinction to the former, which were called fora civilia.

Forum, is also used, among caluits, &c. for jurisdiction; thus they say, In foro legis, &c.