Genus
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
denotes the number of beings or objects, which agree in certain general properties, common to them all, so that genus is in fact only an abstract idea, expressed by some general name or term; or rather a name or term, to signify what is called an abstract idea. Thus, goods is the generic name, and includes, generally, all personal property; but this word may be restrained, particularly in bequests, to such goods as are of the same kind as those previously enumerated.
Vide 3 Ves. 311; 11 Ves. 657; 1 Eq. Cas. Ab. 201, pl. 14; 2 Ves. sen. 278, 280; Dig. 50,17, 80; Ib.