Authorities
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States · John Bouvier · 1839
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
practice. By this word is understood the citations which are made of laws, acts of the legislature, and decided cases, and opinions of elementary writers. In its more confined sense, this word means, cases decided upon solemn argument whick are said to be authorities for similar judgments in like cases.
1 Lilly’s Reg. 219.
These latter are sometimes called precedents, (q. v.) Merlin, Répertoire, mot Autorités.