Accapitare

ACAPITARE, or ACAPtare (Law Lat.) From caput, head, or chief. (1) To pay homage to a chief lord, on becoming his vassal. Bracton, fol. 78n; Fleta, lib. 3, c. 16, § 6, (2) To acknowledge the sovereignty of a chief lord in special cases, as against a mesne; to attorn (acapitare et se atturnare). Bracton, fol. 389a; Fleta, lib. 3, c. 16, § 38; Id. lib. 6, c. 28, § 1. (3) To attorn to another person than the chief lord, and in derogation of his rights. Fleta, lib. 2, c. 50, § 16. ACCEDAS AD CURIAM (Lat. that you go to court).

In English law. An original writ issuing out of chancery and directed to the sheriff, for the purpose of removing a replevin suit from the hundred court or court baron before one of the superior courts of law. It directs the sheriff to go to the lower court, and there cause the ACCEDAS AD VtCE COM ITEM (Lat. that you go to the sheriff).

In English law. A writ directed to the coroner, commanding him to deliver a writ to the sheriff, who suppresses a pone which has been delivered to him, which commands the latter officer to return the pone.

I I In old English law. To do homage to a chief lord on taking the feud; to acknowledge the sovereignty of a chief lord in special cases; 'to attorn to one not the chief lord and in derogation of his rights; to pay relief to a chief lord.

/. To do homage to a chief lord on taking a feud.

Acapitare, Acaptare. L. Lat. [from caput, head, or chief.] To pay homage to a chief lord, on becoming his vassaL Bract, fol. 78 a. 389 a. Fleta, hb. 2, c. 50. To pay a re Uef to a chief lord. Id. ibid, Montesquieu, JCsprit des Loix, liv. 31, c. 24, note.