Plural of 'modus,' meaning methods, ways, or modes; commonly used in phrases like 'modus operandi' (method of operation).
From Latin 'modus' (measure, mode, manner, or way). The plural 'modi' maintains the Latin form, though English speakers often use 'moduses' instead. The word appears frequently in legal, scientific, and formal English contexts.
English borrowed 'modi' from Latin wholesale—we could say 'methods' but lawyers insist on 'modus operandi,' which sounds more authoritative and exclusive. It's how professional jargon preserves power and maintains insider status.
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