bancus communis. The court of common pleas was anciently called common bench, because the pleas and controversies there determined were between common...
contracts. One who undertakes for hire or reward to transport the goods of any who may choose to employ him, from place to place. 1 Pick. 50, 53; 1 Sa...
In many cities the charter provides for their government, in imitation of the national and state governments. There are two branches of the legislativ...
Certain general counts, not founded on any special contract, which are introduced in a declaration, for the purpose of preventing a defeat of a just r...
A fishery to which all persons have a right, such as the cod fisheries off Newfoundland. A common fishery is different from a common of fishery, which...
By this term is meant a road to be used by the community at large for any purpose of transit or traffic. Hamm. N. P. 239. See Highway....
One who, without being specially required by law, or by virtue of his office, gives information of crimes, offences or misdemeanors, which have been c...
construction. The natural sense given to words. 2. It is a rule that when words are used which will bear a natural sense and an artificial one, or one...
That which derives its force and authority from the universal consent and immemorial practice of the people. See Law, common....
One which affects the public in general, and not merely some particular person. 1 Hawk. P. C. 197. See Nuisance....
The name of a court having jurisdiction generally of civil actions. For a historical account of the origin of this court in England, see Boote"s Suit ...
A judgment recovered in a fictitious suit, brought against the tenant of the freehold, in consequence of a default made by the person who is last vouc...
Crim. law, communes rixatrix. A woman, who, in consequence of her boisterous, disorderly and quarrelsome tongue, is a public nuisance to the neighborh...
A seal used by a corporation. See Corporation....
, med. jur. When a person possesses those perceptions, associations and judgments, in relation to persons and things, which agree with those of the ge...
Tenants in common are such as hold an estate, real or personal, by several distinct titles, but by a unity of possession. Vide Tenant in common; Estat...
This kind of traverse differs from those called technical traverses principally in this, that it is preceded by no inducement general or special; it i...
In common recoveries, the person who vouched to warranty. In this fictitious proceeding, the crier of the court usually performs the office of a commo...
Eng. law. This word signifies, 1st. the common people of England, as contradistinguished from the king and the nobles; 2d. the body of a society as th...
One who is entitled with others to the use of a common....
Eng. law. Those subjects of the English nation who are not noblemen. They are represented in parliament in the house of commons....
government. A commonwealth is properly a free state, or republic, having a popular or representative government. The term has been, applied to the gov...
persons. An abiding dwelling, or continuing as an inhabitant in any place. It consists, properly, in sleeping usually in one place.,...
One residing or inhabiting a particular place. Barnes, 162....
This Latin word signifies those wbo die at the same time, as, for example, by shipwreck. 2. When several persons die by the same accident, and there i...
contracts. Information; consultation; conference.2. In order to make a contract, it is essential there should be an agreement; a bare communication or...
Scotch law. This term is used to express the negotiations which have taken place before making a contract, in relation thereto. See Pourparler. 2. It ...
civil law. Common goods. 2. When a person has the management of common property, owned by himself and others, not as partners, he is bound to account ...
This word has several meanings; when used in common parlance it signifies the body of the people. 2. In the civil law, by community is understood corp...
punishments. The change of a punishment to which a person has been condemned into a less severe one. This can be granted only by the executive authori...
civil law. One in which each of the contracting parties gives and, receives an equivalent. The contract of sale is of this kind. The seller gives the ...
That virtue whose object is, to render to every one what belongs to him, as nearly as may be, or that which governs contracts.2. The word commutative ...
contracts. In its more general sense, it signifies an agreement. In its strict sense, it imports a contract between parties, which creates obligations...
dom. rel. By 5 Edw. III., st. 5, c. 2, 1, it is declared to be high treason in any one who " doth compass or imagine the death of our lord the king, o...
French law. This is a general term, comprehending all persons who compose the crew of a ship or vessel. Poth. Mar. Contr. n. 163....
An association of a number of individuals for the purpose of carrying on some legitimate business. 2. This term is not synonymous with partnership, th...
evidence. It is a general rule that comparison of hands is not admissible; but to this there are some exceptions. In some instances, when the antiquit...
In speaking of public offices it is meant by this term to convey the idea that two of them may be held by the same person at the same time. It is the ...
The compensation or set-off of one crime against another; for example, in questions of divorce, where one party claims the divorce on the ground of ad...
chancery practice. The performance of tbat which a court of chancery orders to be done on relieving a party who has broken a condition, which is to pl...
contracts. A reward for services rendered....
contracts, civil law. When two persons are equally indebted to each other, there takes place a compensation between them, which extinguishes both debt...
crim. law; Compeusatio crimiuura, or recrimination (q. v.) 2. In cases of suits for divorce on the ground of adultery, a compensation of the crime hin...
remedies. The damages recovered for an injury, or the violation of a contract.. See Damages....
pleading. He appeared at the day. This is the name of a plea in bar to an action of debt on a bail-bond. The usual replication to this plea is nul tie...
evidence. The legal fitness or ability of a witness to be heard on the trial of a cause. This term is also applied to written or other evidence which ...
One who is legally qualified to be heard to testify in a cause. In Kentucky, Michigan, and Missouri, a will must be attested, for the purpose of passi...
French law. Persons who compete or aspire to the same office, rank or employment. As an English word in common use, it has a much wider application. F...
A literary production, composed of the works of others, and arranged in some methodical manner. 2. When a compilation requires in its execution taste,...
One who makes a complaint. A plaintiff in a suit in chancery is so called....
Legal Dictionary 
