以上术语均有不可预见和无法抵御的事件或后果的含义，均可作为合同免责理由。其中，源于法文的force majesture为“不可抗力”，其包括人为和自然的使得合同无法履行的行为事件（an
unforeseeable natural or human event beyond the control of the parties to a contract, rendering performance of a contract impossible[1]），其也称为 superior force，vis major, force majesture。只是 superior force 和vice major还有另外一个含义，即“天灾直接损失”[2]，此时其也称为vis divina)。act of God为人类活动之外的“自然灾害”或 “天灾”，包括雷击、地震、洪涝等[3]。制定法将其内容扩大到任何不可预见和抵御的自然事件情况，有些可作为合同或侵权责任免责理由，但其内涵肯定比force majesture窄，不包括人为因素，故不宜像有些词典那样将其译为“不可抗力”[4]。
[1] Cf. James E： Clapp, Random House Webster’s Dictionary of the Law, at p. 189, Random House (2000).
[2]“A loss that results immediately from a natural cause without the intervention of man, and could not have been prevented by the exercise of prudence, diligence, and care. ” Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 1086, West Publishing Co. (1991 ).
[3]“An extraordinary natural event (as a flood or earthquake) that cannot be reasonably foreseen or prevented. ”Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D. Merriam, Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 177, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (1996).
[4] 参见《英汉法律词典》编委组编：《英汉法律词典》（修订版），法律出版社1999年版，第13页。
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