One whose business is to buy and sell goods or other things. 2 Bl. Com. 476....
eccl. law. A congregation of clergymen. Such an assembly is termed capitulum, which signifies a little head it being a kind of head, not only to gover...
evidence. The opinion generally entertained of a person derived from the common re "port of the people who are acquainted with him. 3 Serg. & R. 336; ...
practice. The opinion expressed by the court to the jury, on the law arising out of a case before them. 2. It should contain a clear and explicit expo...
contracts. An obligation entered into by the owner of an estate which makes the estate responsible for its performance. Vide 2 Ball & Beatty, 223; 8 C...
wills, devises. An obligation which a testator imposes on his devisee; as, if the testator give Peter, Blackacre, and direct that he shall pay to John...
internationat law. These phrases, the first of which is used in the acts of congress, are synonymous.2. The officer who bear; this title is a diplomat...
Scotch law. He in whose favor a decree suspended is pronounced; vet a decree may be suspended before a charge is given on it. Ersk. Pr. L. Scot. 4, 3,...
The term charges signifies the expenses which have been incurred in relation either to a transaction or to a suit; as the charges incurred for his ben...
In its widest sense it denotes all the good affections which men ought to bear towards each other; 1 Epistle to Cor. c. xiii.; in its most restricted ...
Eng. law, commerce. A quantity of lead consisting of thirty pigs, each pig containing six stones wanting two pounds, and every stone being twelve poun...
An ancient word which signified not only a charter or deed in writing, but any signal or token by which an estate was held....
Signifies an indenture. Shep. Touch. 50; Beames, Glanv. 197-8; Fleta, lib. 3, c. 14, 3. It was so called, because each party had a part....
A deed of one part; a deed poll. 2. Formerly, this phrase was used to distinguish, a deed poll, which is an agreement made by one party only, that is,...
A grant made by the sovereign either to the whole people or to a portion of them, securing to them the enjoyment of certain rights. Of the former kind...
mar. contr. An agreement by which a vessel is hired by the owner to another; as A B chartered the ship Benjamin Franklin to C D....
Eng. law. Land formerly held by deed under certain rents and free services, and it differed in nothing from free socage land. It was also called bookl...
contracts. A contract of affreightment in writing, by which the owner of a ship or other vessel lets the whole, or a part of her, to a merchant or oth...
When a ship is hired or freighted by one or more merchants for a particular voyage or on time, it is called a chartered ship. It is freighted by a spe...
Eng. law. An ancient writ, now obsolete, which lays against one who had charters of feoffment entrusted to his keeping, and who refused to deliver the...
property. The act of acquiring possession of animals ferae naturae by force, cunning or address. The hunter acquires a right to such animals by occupa...
That virtue which prevents the unlawful commerce of the sexes. 2. A woman may defend her chastity by killing her assailant. See Self-defence. And even...
property. A term which includes all hinds of property, except the freehold or things which are parcel of it. It is a more extensive term than goods or...
criminal law, torts. A cheat is a deceitful practice, of a public nature, in defrauding another of a known right, by some artful device, contrary to t...
contracts. A written order or request, addressed to a bank or persons carrying on the banking business, and drawn upon them by a party having money in...
commerce. One kept by persons who have accounts in bank, in which are printed blank forms of cheeks, or orders upon the bank to pay money....
med. jur. The science which teaches the nature and property of all bodies by their analysis and combination. In considering cases of poison, the lawye...
contracts, torts. This is a French word, which signifies in that language, accord, agreement, compact. In the English statutes it is used to denote a ...
principal. One who is put above the rest; as, chief magistrate chief justice : it also signifies the best of a number of things. It is frequently used...
This officer is appointed by the secretary of state; his duties are to attend to the business of the ofFice under the superintendence of the secretary...
officer. The president of a supreme court; as the chief justice of the United States, the chief justice of Pennsylvania, and the -like. Vide 15 Vin. A...
An officer among the English, established soon after the conquest. 2. He had judicial power, and sat as a judge in the Curia Regis. (q. v.) In the abs...
domestic relations. A child is the son or daughter in relation to the father or mother. 2. We will here consider the law, in general terms, as it rela...
Weakness of intellect, such as that of a child. 2. When the childishness is so great that a man has lost his memory, or is incapable to plan a proper ...
This is a corruption of the French word chemin, a highway. It is used by old writers. Com. Dig. Chimin....
Interest for money charged in China. In a case where a note was given in China, payable eighteen months after date, without, any stipulation respectin...
conveyancing. Signifies a deed or public instrument in writing. Chirographs were anciently attested by the subscription and crosses of witnesses; afte...
A word derived from the Greek, which signifies "a writing with a man"s hand." A chirographer is an officer of the English court of C. P.who engrosses ...
ancient Eng. law. This word is derived from the French chevelier, a horseman. It is. the name of a tenure of land by knight"s service. Chivalry was of...
Preference either of a person or thing, to one of several other persons or things. Election. (q. v.)...
property. This is a French word, signifying thing. In law, it is applied to personal property; as choses in possession, are such personal things of wh...
The religion established by Jesus Christ. 2. Christianity has been judicially declared to be a part of the common law of Pennsylvania; 11 Serg. & Rawl...
In a moral or spiritual sense this word signifies a society of persons who profess the Christian religion; and in a physical or material sense, the pl...
An officer whose duties are, as the name implies, to take care of, or guard the church. 2. These officers are created in some ecclesiastical corporati...
Eng. law. Literally, five ports. The name by which tho five ports of Hastings, Ramenhale, Hetha or Hethe, Dover, and Sandwich, are known. 2. These por...
An arithmetical character, used for numerical notation. Vide Figures, and 13 Vin. Ab. 210; 18 Eng. C. L. R. 95; 1 Ch. Cr. Law, 176. 2. By cipher is al...
The name of a court of the United States, which has both civil and criminal jurisdiction. In several of the states there are courts which bear this na...
practice, remedies. It is where a party, by bringing an action, gives an action to the defendant against him. 2. As, supposing the obligee of a bond c...
Certain divisions of the country, appointed for particular judges to visit for the trial of causes, or for the administration of justice. See 3 Bl. Co...
By this term is understood whatever is used in making payments, as money, bank notes, or paper which passes from hand to hand in payment of goods, or ...
Legal Dictionary 
