pleading. A declaration is a specification, in a methodical and logical form, of the circumstances which constitute the plaintiffs cause of action. 1 ...
This is a state paper issued by the congress of the United States of America, in the name and by the authority of the people, on the fourth day of Jul...
The act of an alien, who goes before a court of record, and in a forma manner declares that it is, bona fide, his intention to become a citizen of the...
The act by which an individual acknowledges that a property, the title of which he holds, does in fact belong to another, for whose use he holds the s...
An act of the national legislature, in which a state of war is declared to exist between the United States and some other nation. 2. This power is ves...
evidence. The statements made by the parties to a transaction, in relation to the same. 2. These declarations when proved are received in evidence, fo...
Something which explains, or ascertains what before was un- certain or doubtful, as a declaratory statute, which is one passed to put an end to a doub...
med. jurisp. The operation of boiling certain ingredients in a fluid, for the purpose of extracting the parts soluble at that temperature. Decoction a...
canon law in France. Formerly those persons who died without confession were so called, whether they refused to confess or whether they were criminals...
Proper behaviour, good order. 2. Decorum is requisite in public places, in order to permit all persons to enjoy their rights, for example, decorum is ...
A pond used for the breeding and maintenance of water-fowl. 11 Mod. 74, 130, S. C. 3 Salk. 9, Holt, 14 11 East, 571....
practice. The judgment or sentence of a court of equity. 2. It is either interlocutory or final. The former is given on some plea or issue arising in ...
legislation. In some countries as in France, some acts of the legislature, or of the sovereign, which have the force of law, are called decrees, as, t...
Scotch law. A decree made by arbitrators chosen by the parties, an award. 1 Bells Com. 643....
Scotch law. A proceeding by which the creditor has immediate execution, it is somewhat like awarrant of attorney to confess judgment. 1 Bells Com. B. ...
Chancery practice. An order made by the court of chancery, upon a motion or petition, in the nature of a decree. 2 Dan. Ch. Pr. 637....
eccles. law. The decretals are canononical epistles, written by the pope alone, or by the pope and cardinals, at the instance or suit of some one or m...
conveyancing. I have given. This word amounts to a warranty in law, when it is in a deed, for example, if in a deed it be said, I have given, &c., to ...
Solemn appropriation. It may be expressed or implied. 2. An express dedication of property to public use is made by a direct appropriation of it to su...
practice. The name of a writ to commission private. persons to do some act in the place of a judge, as, to administer an oath of office to a justice o...
The name of a writ which was formerly issued by authority of the crown in England to authorize an attorney to appear for a defendant. 2. By statute of...
conveyancing, contracts. A writing or instrument, under seal, containing some contract or agreement, and which has been delivered by the parties. Co. ...
contracts. A deed made by one party only is not indented, but polled or shaved quite even, and is, for this reason, called a deed poll, or single deed...
practice, contracts. The reduction of the claim of one of the contracting parties against the other, by deducting from it a smaller claim due from the...
tort. The speaking slanderous words of a person so as, de bona fama aliquid detrahere, to hurt his good fame. Vide Slander. 2. In the United States, t...
The neglect to perform a legal obligation or duty, but in technical language by default is often understood the non-appearance of the defendant within...
contracts, torts. By the 4th section of the English statute of frauds, 29 Car. H., c. 3, it is enacted that "no action shall be brought to charge the ...
com. law. One who is deficient in his accounts, or falls in making his accounts correct....
contracts, conveyancing. An instrument which defeats the force or operation of some other deed or estate. That, which in the same deed is called a con...
What may be undone or annulled....
The want of something required by law. 2. It is a general rule that pleadings shall have these two requisites, 1. A matter sufficient in law. 2. That ...
torts. A forcible resistance of an attack by force. 2. A man is justified, in defending his person, that of his wife, children, and servants, and for ...
pleading, practice. It is defined to be the denial of the truth or validity of the complaint, and does not signify a justification. It is a general as...
A party who is sued in a personal action. Vide Demandant, Par- ties to Actions, Pursuer, and Com. Dig. Abatement, F, Action upon the case upon assumps...
A party against whom a writ of error is sued out....
canon law. The name by which the defendant or respondent is known in the ecclesiastical courts....
The defence or mode of propounding a defence in the spiritual courts, is so called....
This Latin term signifies that something is wanting. It is used to express the deficiency which is discovered in the accounts of an accountant, or in ...
An ascertained number, the term is usually applied in op- position to an indefinite number. 2. When there is a definite number of corporators, in orde...
An enumerition of the principal ideas of which a compound idea is formed, to ascertain and explain its nature and character, or it is that which denot...
That which terminates a suit a definitive sentence or judgment is put in opposition to an interlocutory judgment, final. (q. v.)...
The act by which a woman is deprived of her virginity. 2. When this is done unlawfully, and against her will, it bears the name of rape, (q. v.) when ...
One who wrongfully keeps the owner of lands and tenements out of the possession of them. 2 Bl. Com. 350....
To withhold lands or tenements from the right owner. This is a word of art which cannot be supplied by any other word. Co. Litt. 331 b, 3 Tho. Co. Lit...
tort. In its most extensive sense it signifies the holding of any lands or tenements to which another person has a right, Co . Litt. 277, so that this...
Scotch law. The opposition given, or resistance made, to messengers or other officers, while they are employed in executing the law. 2. This crime is ...
A term used for one that is deceased or dead. In some acts of assembly in Pennsylvania, such deceased person is called a decedent. (q. v.)...
punishment, ecclesiastical law. A censure by which a clergy man is deprived of his holy orders, which he had as a priest or deacon....
descents. This word is derived from the French degre, which is itself taken from the Latin gradus, and signifies literally, a step in a stairway, or t...
measures. In angular measures, a degree is equal to sixty minutes, or the thirtieth part of a sine. Vide Measure....
Legal Dictionary 
