Astute

astnti, I. Acute; of nice discrimination. Courts are said to be or not to be astute in particular cases; as, astute to find reasonable distinctions to unreasonable rules; not astute to infer fraud or wrong. At, ad, I fr. Hath. At, et, I. fr. And. At, atte, ate. A part of early English surnames, usually distinctive of the place from which the name was taken: as, Johan' Atte Graschirch. It gradually became changed into a or of, and finally disappeared. At. Primarily it expresses relations of presence, nearness in place or time or direction toward. At and from: words in policies of marine insurance, the meaning of which depends on the situation of the vessel when the insurance is effected. At any time: ever; some time; at all times. At bar: before the court At large: not hmited to any particular matter,, person or place; unconfined, or unrestrained, as an animal in the exercise of its natural freedom. At law: according to law; by, for, or in law. At sea: out of the limits of any port or harbor on the sea coast At sight: in view; on presentation,— applied to bills of exchange.

When it is said that the courts are "not astute" to do a thing, (as, to infer fraud from negligence), the meaning is that they are disinclined, not disposed, to do the particular thing. Thus, they are not only not predisposed but are reluctant or avei-se to accepting a conclusion involving intended wrong. ASYIiUM.i Retreat, refuge; protection, immunity. 1. A place of refuge and protection for criminals, and debtors. ** Asylum " includes not only place, but shelter, secimty, protection. Thus, within the meaning of the extradition treaty ot 1868 (15 St. L. 029), a fugitive from justice in Italy " seeks asylum " in this country when he claims the use of a Territory as an asylum.^ See Extradition. 2. Immunity from law; as, the status of a public minister. 3. An institution for the unfortunate. See Sectaman. AT. 1. The prefix at-, the Latin ad, q. v. 2. The English preposition, expressing the relation of presence, nearness in place or time, direction toward. 3 The word is somewhat indefinite; it may mean "in," "within," or "near." Its primary idea is nearness, and it is less definite than in or on.* " At the terminus " of a road may mean near the terminus.* In ordinary speech, "at "more generally means " within " than *' without." Thus, at a town or at a county means at some.place within the town or county, rather than at a place without or even at the outermost verge of, but not in, such town or county. In indictments, where the utmost precision is necessary, the fact is generally stated to have been done at the place; and, if it were not done in the place, the venue would be wrong. " At," like "from," has not then, generally speaking, an exclusive signiflcation: as, in the expression that a canal shall begin "at the District of Columbia." ' " L. asylum, » place of refuge: Gk. a'aylos, imdespoiled, unharmed. ' Be De Giacomo, 12 Blatch. 395 (1874), Blatchf ord, J. » Webster's Diet. * State (West Jersey B. Co.) v. Receiver of Taxes, 38