Abbreviations

Shortened conventional expressions, employed as substitutes for names, phrases, dates, and the like, for the saving of space, of time in transcribing, ete. Abbott. - Abbreviationum, ille numerus et sensus accipiendus est, ut conccssio non sit inanis. In abbreviations, such number gnc sense is to be taken that the grant ve not made void. 9 Coke, 48,

A judge may, without proof, determine the meaning of the customary abbreviations of Christian names,^ names of offices,' names of places,^ and common words. 9 See Ambiguity; Name, 1. See, in this book, particular words, and the collections of abbreviations at the beginning of each letter. In declaring upon an instnament containing abbreviated terms, extrinsic averments may be used to make them intelligible; and evidence of the sense in which the parties were in the habit of using the abbreviations, and of their conventional meaning, is admissible, but not to show the intention of one party in using them.^° Generally, in indictments, common words are to be used as descriptive of the matter. Abbreviations of terms employed by men of science or in the arts will not answer, without full explanation of their meaning in common language. The use of A. D., year of our Lord, because of its Tiniversality, constitutes an exception. Arabic figures and Roman letters have also become indicative of numbers as fully as words writi Cookv. Burnley, 11 Wall. 668 (1867). " Society for Propagation of the Gospel v. Town of Pawlet, 4 Pet. 501 (1830;. MBl.'Com. 334. 4 Baltimore, &c. R. Co. v. Harris, 13 WaU. 84 (1870;; Pomter v. State, 89 Ind. 267 (1883). <'3 Bl. Com. 803-3. See generally Gould, Plead. 235-78; Stephen, Plead. 47-51. • Gordon's Lessee v. Holiday, 1 Wash. 289 (1805); Weaver v. Mc Elhenon, 13 Mo. 90 (1850); Stephen v. State, 11 Ga. 241 (1852). ' Moseley's " Adm'r " i). Mastin, 37 Ala. 221 (1861). 8 Ellis V. Park, 8 Tex. 205 (1862); Russell v. Martin, 15 id. 238 (1855). ■ ' •Jaqua v. Withara, &c. Co., 106 Ind. 547-48 (1886); Dana v. Medler, 12 N. Y. 40, 46 (1854); 1 Greenl. Ev. § 282; 2 Whart. Ev. § 1003; Best, Ev. 232, 262. ten out could be. Their general use makes them known to all men. But unexplained initials, as, for example, initials referring to public land sm^eys, may not be employed in an indictment, i