Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence

Destitute of an occupant; empty; unfilled; unoccupied. Vacant of Bce. An office is vacant, or there is said to be a vacancy in an Utter barristers. Barristers-at-law, in general, w

See Bona Vacantia.

1. To annul; to declare void; as to vacate a proceeding for irregularity, or because of fraud or surprise. 2. To leave empty or unoccupied. When the occupant of a dwelling-house mo

The time between the end of one term and the beginning of another: and it begins the last day of every term, as soon as the court rises. Tlie time from the death of a bishop, or ot

A pledge; security by pledge of property. Vadium mortuum. A dead pledge. A mortgage; a security given to a creditor on condition that, if the money be hot repaid at the appointed t

One that wanders about, and has no certain dwelling; an idle fellow. Jacob,.

One belonging to either of the classes of persons who, by reason of their having no fixed home and subsistence, and pursuing courses ute, be confined and disciplined. Who are vagra

Was anciently a name denoting young gentlemen of rank and family, but afterwards applied to those of lower degree, and is now used for a menial servant, more particularly occupied

Appraised worth; estimation in the market; supposed purchasing power; worth in money. A distinction has been made between value and price. If a plaintiff declares in an action of t

or VAVASOR. The first name of dignity next beneath a peer was anciently that of valvasors, or vavasors, who are mentioned by our ancient lawyers as viri magnas dignitatis. Yet they

A difference, inconsistency, or variation between the evidence adduced and the allegation in pleading in support of which the evidence is offered, or between the intimation of the

In ancient English customs, signified a tenant or feudatary; or person who vowed fidelity and homage to a lord, on account of some land, &c., held of him in fee; also, a slave or s

See Valvasor.

An officer of the king's forest, who is sworn to maintain and keep the assises of the forest, and to view, receive, and enrol the attachments and presentments of all manner of tres

An old expression for money or fines paid to the king, to defray his charges in maintaining the courts of iustice and protection of the people. Tomlins.

As used in the act of July 18, 1866, to prevent smuggling, includes every description of carriage, wagon, engine, ear, sleigh, -sled, sledge, hurdle, cart, and other artificial con

Viewers; persons sent by the court to take a view of any place in question, for the better decision of the right. It signifies, also, such as are sent to view those that essoine th

The party to whom a sale is made. It is, however, convenient, and the tendency of usage is, to employ " vendee " or " purchaser " when a sale of real property is in view, and " buy

Another form of vendor, q. V. VENDITIO; VENDITION. The Latin tei-m and its Anglicized form for " sale; " the transfer of property for a price. Also, for " a sale," or some particul

The party to whom a sale is made. It is, however, convenient, and the tendency of usage is, to employ "vendor" when a sale of real property is in view, and " seller " when the sale

To come; to appear in court. This word is sometimes used as the name of the writ for summoning a jury, more commonly called a venire facias. Venire facias. That you cause to come.

or VENTRE. The ab- The latter sense is most frequent in law-books; as when an unborn child is said to be en ventre sa mere; or in naming the writ de ventre inspiciendo, q. V.

Neighborhood; place; lo- ' cality. Particularly, the neighborhood, place, or county in which a crime or an injury is alleged to have been committed or a fact alleged to have happen

Words; language. Several Latin maxims begin with this word. Those we give relate chiefly to the construction of written instruments. Verba aocipienda sunt secundum subjectam materi

Embodied in language; expressed; worded. See Parol.

The decision of a petit jury upon an issue of fact submitted to them. The decision of a judge or referee, upon an issue of fact, is not called a verdict, but a finding, or a findin

To confirm by oath; to establish; to show to be true. Particularly used of making formal oath, as required by law, to accounts, petitions, pleadings, and some other papers. Verific

Against. This word is much used in entitling suits, to separate the names of the plaintiffs or complainants from those of the defendants. It is usually abbreviated vs. or v., and i

Any thing that doth grow and bear a green leaf within the forest. It is divided into over vert and nether vert. Over vert is the great woods, and nether vert is the underwoods. The

See Ship. An open boat is not a ship or vessel. The term vessel is never, pr at least very rarely, used to designate any water-craft without a deck. United States v. An Open Boat a

This verb is used both transitively and intransitively. A statute or a deed is said to vest an estate in some person, or to vest a person with the estate, meaning to confer the own

The place in a church where the priest's vestures are deposited. Also, an assembly of the minister, churchwardens, and parishioners, usually held in the vestry of the church, or in

I forbid. The power reserved by the American constitutions to the president or governor, to refuse that executive assent which is necessai-y to the complete enactment of a bill, an

Capable of living. Viability: capability of living; possibility of continued existence. An infant newly born is said to be viable, if the organs are in such a state of regular conf

The priest of every parish is called rector, unless the predial tithes are appropriated, and then he is styled vicar; and, when rectories are appropriated, vicars are to supply the

1. In the law of sales, particularly of sales of animals and slaves, a vice is a defect or fault in the creature sold. 2. As a prefix to the titles of certain offices, vice often d

A person clothed with authority to act in place of the king; hence, the usual title of the gdvernor of a dependency.

The.neighborhood; the vicinity. See Pais.

To wit; that is to say; namely. This word has in general the same meaning as scilicet (q. v.), and is used in the same manner as that term; and the remarks under that word as to th

u. A legal examination by the eye, or inspection of any subjectmatter in question. View, v.: to inspect. Viewer: a person appointed to make and report upon ocular examination; part

Live pledge; the antithesis of mortgage or dead pledge. Strictly, it applied to a transfer of productive property to a creditor as security for a debt, upon terms that the rents, i

Seems to bear the same signification in law as a town or tithing; and each of them is said to have had originally a church, and celebration of divine service, sacraments, and bm-ia

Any small assemblage of houses for dwellings or business, or both, in the country, whether they are situated upon regularly laid out streets and alleys or not, constitutes a villag

or VILLAIN. The name of a servile class, under Saxon institutions. Villeinage, or villenage: the state or condition of a villein; also, the tenure by which villeins held their land

See Ex- EMPLAHT Damages.

Force. Violent: forcible; used literally and metaphorically. Violently: with force. Violence is a general term, including all sorts of force. State v. Weaver, Bush. L. 9. The acts

The phrase "by virtue" differs in meaning from " under color." For instance, the proper fees are received by virtue of the office; extortion is under color of the office. Any right

In a statute punishing who has not had illegal and sexual intercourse. A conviction is not warranted if the character of the woman for chastity and purity of heart and feelings has

Power; strength. Also, applied to a writ, &c., the substance or tenor. Virtute cujus. By reason whereof. A part of the declaration in an action at common law, which, after setting

Force. This word often signifies unlawful force; violence; but sometimes efficacy; power to produce an effect. Vis major. A superior force. In the law of bailment, this term expres

1. A degree of English nobility, next below that of earl. 2. An old title of the sheriff.

In international law, the right of visit or visitation is a claim that officers of a public ship of one nation may go on board a vessel sailing under the flag of another nation, to

In a technical sense, is a visit of an authorized person; such as that of the bishop of a diocese or the archdeacon to the churches, or that of the founder or his appointee to an e

To speak the truth. This law-French phrase is used to denote a preliminary oath administered to a proposed witness, for the purpose of an examination to ascertain whether he is qua

1. Free; without compulsion or solicitation; in accordance with a person's choice, consent, or agreement. 2. Without consideration, and particularly without valuable consideration;

Will; intention; design. Sometimes, a will; a testamentary disposition of property. But in this sense the word is usually followed by iestatoris: voluntas iestatoris, — the will of

1. In conveyancing, one who takes title under a conveyance made without a good or valuable consideration. 2. In military law, one who serves willingly, by his choice, in distinctio

The will of a member of a body, formally manifested towards the decision of a question by the body as a whole, is his vote; and the aggregate of the expressions of the will of the

To call in; to require a warrantor to defend the title; to summon. Voucher, or vouchor: one who calls his warrantor in to defend the title. Vouchee: a warrantor summoned to defend

Is used for a ledgerbook, or book of accounts, wherein are entered the acquittances or warrants for the accountant's discharge. It also signifies any acquittance or receipt, discha