Definitions from Black's Law Dictionary: 2nd Edition and Ballentine's Law Dictionary as are available for each term in each dictionary.
  • Black's Law Dictionary: 2nd Edition

    To support, sustain or carry; to give rise toj or to produce, something else as an incident or auxillary.
    —Bear arms. To carry arms as weapons and with reference to their military use, not to wear them about the person as part of the dress. Aymette v. State, 2 Humph. (Tenn.) 158. As applied to firearms, includes the right to load and shoot them, and to use them as such things are generally used. Hill v. State, 53 Ga. 480.
    —Bear interest. To generate interest, so that the instrument or loan spoken of shall produce or yield interest at the rate specified by the parties or granted by law. Slaughter v. Slaughter, 21 Ind. App. 641, 52 N. E. 995.
    — Bearer. One who carries or holds a thing. When a check, note, draft, etc., is payable to "bearer," it imports that the contents thereof shall be payable to any person who may present the instrument for payment. Thompson v. Perrme, 106 U. S 589, 1 Sun. Ct. 564, 568, 27 L Ed. 298; Bradford v. Jenks, 3 Fed. Cas. 1,132; Hubbard v. Railroad Co., 14 Abb. Prac. (N. Y.) 278.
    —Bearers. In old English law. Those who bore down upon or oppressed others; Cowell.
    —Bearing date. Disclosing a date on its face; having a certain date. These words are often used in conveyancing, and in pleading, to introduce tha date which has been put upon an instrument.