Sensus
A Dictionary of Law · William C. Anderson · 1889
A Dictionary of Law
Sense; signification.
Mains sensus
The bad sense. In malo sensu, or malo sensu. In the less favorable acceptation. Mitior sensus. The milder meaning. In mitiori sensu. In the more favorable acceptation. The old rule was that language alleged to be defamatoiy was to be interpreted in the sense most favorable to the defendant. In modern practice, that meaning is attributed which the words ordinarily bear under the circumstances in which they were used.* See Libel, 5; Slander.